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DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
( b ) In both cases the poll is declared on the basis of majority votes. But in the case of a separate electorate the majority is and must be of the voters belonging to the same community as that of the candidate, while in the case of a joint electorate majority need not be of the same community as that of the candidate.
( ii ) Joint Electorate compared with General Electorate: —
(1) A Joint electorate is akin to a General Electorate in as much as in both a voter is free to vote for any candidate standing for a general Constituency.
(2) A Joint Electorate differs from a Separate Electorate in two respects :—
( a ) A General Electorate may be a single member electorate. But a Joint Electorate must at least be a two-member electorate one general and one reserved.
( b ) In a General Electorate no seat is earmarked for any community. But in a Joint Electorate one at least must be reserved.
- Special Features of Joint Electorate.
A Joint Electorate with Reserved Seats is essentially a General Electorate with the following distinguishing features:—
(1) A General Electorate may be a single member electorate. But a Joint Electorate must necessarily be a plural member Electorate.
(2) In a General Electorate the seat or seats to be filled by Election are open to all, and all communities not enclosed in separate electorates are entitled to contest and the result of the election is determined by majority of the votes polled by the candidates without reference to community of the voter or the candidate. But in a Joint Electorate at least one seat is reserved for some particular community which means that the right to stand as a candidate for such reserved seat is restricted to members of that community.
(3) While the right to stand in a Joint Electorate is restricted, the right to vote is unrestricted and all