If an election has an independent commission but the government does not follow its directions, what weakness remains?

Correct answer: The effective independence of the electoral body will be weakened

Correct answer: A. Independence is meaningful only when an electoral body can take decisions and have them respected or enforced. If the government ignores its lawful directions, the commission may exist formally but lack practical authority. This can allow violations to continue, reduce public trust and make the election less fair. A is correct because the weakness is not merely the absence of independence on paper; it is the loss of effective independence in practice. B is wrong because government non-compliance cannot change voters’ age. C is wrong because ignoring directions does not automatically create more candidates. D is wrong because the appearance of campaigning has no connection with institutional authority. Memory cue: independence needs both freedom to decide and power to make decisions effective.