Excessive influence of money power in elections can weaken which ideal?

Correct answer: Fair competition and equal opportunity

Correct answer: B. In a fair election, candidates and parties should have a genuine opportunity to reach voters and present their ideas. Excessive money power can give a wealthy candidate greater access to advertising, travel, publicity and other campaign resources. This may make it harder for candidates with fewer resources to be heard, even when they have relevant ideas and public support. Thus money power can make the contest unequal and weaken the ideal of fair competition and equal opportunity. This does not mean that every campaign expense is automatically unfair; the problem is the excessive or improper use of money that distorts political competition. Option A is about the size of the voter list, not equality between contestants. Option C concerns polling arrangements. Option D concerns timing and does not identify the democratic ideal affected. Memory cue: money power can turn a contest of ideas into an unequal contest of resources.