Compulsory voting -- needed most in democracy

 Compulsory voting -- needed most in democracy

Voting is not only our right—it is our power. It is the only way to make change in a system. The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all. Bad politicians are elected by good citizens who don’t vote. Indeed too bad is  that all the people who know how to run the country are busy becoming themselves as labours and ploughing farms. In fact, If someone doesn’t vote, he loses the right to complain. This is one of the penalties for refusing to cast votes that you end up being governed by inferiors. Let us know certain reasons of compulsory voting ---

● Indeed the government represents a majority of the population, not only individuals who vote. So compulsory voting  ensures that governments do not neglect sections of society that are less active politically.

●  Ensuring people's learning about their position with respect to issues such as social change, empowerment, financial policies and other aspects that are of critical importance for national growth and development.

● There are a big gaps between the urban and rural areas, when it comes to critical issues such as growth and development. Because only a cross section of the population bothers to vote. This can change if voting is made compulsory.

● Low voter turnout can often tip the scales and cause unworthy candidates to secure a victory.

● Voter apathy has become a big problem. Local and central governments are spending huge amount of money and resources to create campaigns (like SVEEP) that encourage people to vote. This expenditure can be eliminated if voting were to be made compulsory. 

● Compulsory voting is all about people making the state accountable for all its actions. If the while all is made to vote at the polls, problems such as vote capturing and criminalization of politics would be eliminated. 

● NOTA and VVPAT facilities are also being given by the government.  Now no excuses can be made for casting votes.

 There are a huge number of initiatives that the local and central governments can take to make the process easy. Postal voting procedures, online voting methods, week-end voting processes as well as automated new electoral enrolment are ideal for handling the huge volume of voters. 

There are many  countries and sub-national entities that enforce compulsory voting in which Argentina, Australia, Switzerland, Ecuador, Brazil, Belgium, Nauru, Singapore and many more have achieved significant improvement in voters turnouts. (approx. more than 92%) If we want to rival the growth and development of such countries, the legislators and the bureaucrats must summon the courage to initiate processes for making voting compulsory. 

It may be non-compulsory for those older than 70,  providing a legitimate reason for not voting and those over 500 km away from their voting place ( but cast through postal votes or pre-poll voting at nominated polling stations). But without valid reasons, It should be imposed penalties, deprived from government facilities or  disenfranchisement. 

Voting may be seen as a civic right rather than a civic duty, but such a duty should be obligatory.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, the Voter turnouts of the khunti Lok Sabha was 66.3% and it was equivalent to the national Average. We should increase and bring up to 75%. If we, voters, are encouraged to exercise their right to vote, strength in numbers can eliminate electoral malpractices. If the entire electors judge the performance of the regional or central government, elections will reflect the true hopes and aspirations of the total population.

Let us celebrate  the festival of democracy that comes in five years, we must have  participated positively. Democracy is not just the right to vote, it is the right to live in dignity. Voting is the expression of our commitment to ourselves, one another and our country.