How does a pre-announced election schedule increase fairness?

Correct answer: All parties and voters get equal opportunity to prepare

Correct answer: A. An election schedule tells political parties, candidates, officials, and voters when important stages will occur, such as nominations, campaigning, polling, and counting. When the schedule is announced in advance and is available to everyone, no party should receive a hidden timing advantage. Parties can nominate candidates and organise lawful campaigns, while voters can learn about choices and make arrangements to vote. This predictability also makes the process easier to monitor and question if rules are not followed. Option A is correct because equal advance notice gives different participants a fair chance to prepare. Option B is wrong because a public schedule is not meant to benefit only the ruling party. Option C is wrong because announcing dates does not remove the right to vote; it helps people exercise it. Option D is wrong because a schedule does not make counting secret; counting remains governed by election procedures. Memory cue: public timetable means equal preparation, not privileged information.