Gujarat's compulsory voting: Is it a
pilot project with an eye on countrywide implementation?
The Gujarat government on November 7
passed the Gujarat Local Authorities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2009, making voting
mandatory in local body elections. With this, an act that conventional wisdom
in the country presumes is voluntary will henceforth invite adjudication in
case of abstention.
Abstention, for many voters, will doubtless invite disapproval and condemnation from several quarters, particularly those that give the phrase 'politically-correct' a new dimension. Yet, the fact is as valid an electoral choice as any other in a democracy, including None of the Above, or NOTA, the closest option an individual has to express his/her apathy or displeasure towards the politicians or politics. "Freedom of expression in a democracy and compulsion don't go together," says former chief election commissioner (CEC) SY Quraishi. .
Abstention, for many voters, will doubtless invite disapproval and condemnation from several quarters, particularly those that give the phrase 'politically-correct' a new dimension. Yet, the fact is as valid an electoral choice as any other in a democracy, including None of the Above, or NOTA, the closest option an individual has to express his/her apathy or displeasure towards the politicians or politics. "Freedom of expression in a democracy and compulsion don't go together," says former chief election commissioner (CEC) SY Quraishi. .
In a political setup in which
members of parliament have the right not to vote for any bill by two ways — by
abstention or by being present and yet deciding not to vote — experts are
questioning why can't ordinary people have the same right. "Voting is all about
an individual's free will. It is a bad idea to make voting compulsory,"
says Supreme Court advocate Siddharth Dave.
The government in Gujarat, where elections to the local bodies are due in October 2015, has a different take.
The government in Gujarat, where elections to the local bodies are due in October 2015, has a different take.
workforce
to prosecute people in lakhs if not crores," asks Quraishi. According to
the former CEC, Australia — one of the democracies with a law on compulsory ..
Nitin Patel, the state road and
building minister who tabled the Bill in the Gujarat Assembly and spokesperson
of the Gujarat government, feels the purpose of the Bill is to bring more
responsibility amongst citizens toward their local bodies. "More
participation will ensure that good people come to the power at the local
level." Nice thought, but will it work?
"Even if one decides to charge a token `1 from defaulters, do we have the level of strength, the infrastructure and the workfrce to prosecute people in lakhs if not crores," asks Quraishi. According to the former CEC, Australia — one of the democracies with a law on compulsory
"Even if one decides to charge a token `1 from defaulters, do we have the level of strength, the infrastructure and the workfrce to prosecute people in lakhs if not crores," asks Quraishi. According to the former CEC, Australia — one of the democracies with a law on compulsory
Globally, more than 22 countries
have had legislation on compulsory voting while only 11 enforce it. Countries
like Chile, Fiji, the Netherlands and Venezuela have abandoned compulsory
voting.
AKANKSHA SHANU
PGDM 3rd semester
2013-15
Source:- The Times Of India.
Gujarat's compulsory voting: Is it a pilot project with an eye on countrywide implementation?
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