Voting now a must in Gujarat local elections

[sanjaymalik]

it's a very good move to be taken by Mr Modi because peoples participation in formation of govt is very less. the present govt whether it be at state level or centre level it's a govt of only 15 or 20% peoples.In Loksabha election voting % is hardly 55 to 60% and i think the participation of educated people is less than 5%. People abstain from voting mostly so called educated peoples. they used to enjoy the polling day as a holiday. it should be madatory to cast his/her vote. Moreover even who used to criticized govt/govt policies are those people who do not cast vote.Without proper participation of educated people is it possible to choose a right candidate ? No, only less educated people or destitue used their right to vote, and % of such peoples polling is very high in comparision to educated.
Regards
sanjay

 

[bazardparveen]

Finally Modi Did it... This is beginning and surely few more States will follow this and they should...
Himachal is already planning to implement such regulations...
I believe Indian government should bring such regulation at all levels.. and should also give an option for NONE OF THE ABOVE like Gujarat Govt is giving in local body elections...

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Gandhinagar, Dec 19 (IANS) Gujarat Saturday became the first state in India to make voting compulsory in all local body elections, with Chief Minister Narendra Modi calling it a 'move to strengthen democracy'.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Amid opposition from the Congress, the assembly passed the Gujarat Local Authorities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2009. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]It makes voting compulsory in elections to all seven municipal corporations, 159 municipalities, 26 district panchayats, 223 taluka panchayats and in 13,713 village panchayats of the state.
[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Piloting the bill, Urban Development Minister Nitin Patel said it was aimed at making democracy more representative and meaningful. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Terming the bill 'an epochal move', Modi said the educated and the intellectual class who often stay away from taking part in grassroots democracy would now have to do so. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]'It was shocking to see that the large mass of people who had collected to light candles in the aftermath of 26/11 attacks in Mumbai did not come out to vote with the same enthusiasm,' he said.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]'Our decision seeks to overturn such a situation to ensure that there is maximum participation of people in (elections).'[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]According to the new law, all registered voters in Gujarat will be required to vote. Those absent will be asked to submit a valid reason with proof within a month. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The bill empowers the election officer to declare people who do not vote as defaulter voters. They shall have an opportunity to present their case within a month. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Exemption will be granted on account of illness, absence from the country or state on polling day and for any other reason prescribed by the state. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Modi said he hoped that other states as well as the country as a whole would follow suit. He contended that making voting compulsory would go a long way in reducing corruption in the electoral process. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]'It has been a matter of concern for all of us and Gujarat has taken the initiative to show the way. With the voters going in large numbers to exercise their franchise, the role of black money is sure to be reduced and democracy will be the ultimate victor,' he added.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]'It is a matter of discipline. Should an individual not be apportioning half an hour just once in years to the state? Is that asking for too much?'[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Modi noted that 32 countries had made voting compulsory, leading to the voting percentages shooting up from 45 to over 90 percent.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]'How do you justify a situation wherein 50 percent vote and with a mere 26 percent, people rule for years while an overwhelming 70 percent remains unrepresented and without any say? The situation needs to be changed.'[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Congress legislature party leader Shaktisinh Gohil opposed the bill saying it was 'impractical' and 'designed with political motives'.[/FONT]

It's a good move by Modi's government. It will surely strengthen the democracy by increasing participation of all citizens. Hopefully this will become rule in entire country soon.......

 

[akshaymalik84]

Do higher turnout in itself says anything meaningful about the quality of a democracy? Simply put, those who do not vote are likely to be the least interested, least informed, and least engaged voters. Can forcing such people to vote increase democracy quality? I know not.

Compulsory voting may be a desperate way to counter voting apathy and declining legitimacy in democracy. In India, turnout amongst the poor is no worse, and usually much higher, than amongst the privileged. Compulsory voting is being framed as a device not to empower the poor, but to save the middle class, from self-destruction and apathy.

Compulsion involved in voting is like the compulsions the state poses on us in so many areas, from taxation to regulation. Indeed, this move requires not that you vote but that you turn out. It requires you to express your act of non-choice, and by aligning it with an option to reject everyone, it may enhance choice.

Some argue that candidates often get elected with a small plurality of votes, and increased turnouts would enhance the legitimacy of elected representatives. But the votes someone may be elected with is a function of a number of things, including number of candidates. I think there is no evidence that in democracies where candidates win with small pluralities, the system as a whole is less constitutional than in democracies with compulsory voting. You could argue that a plurality system with low winning margins that allows rapid turnover of different groups in power is more legitimate because it assures different groups that they have a shot at power.

One theory states that forcing people induces them to have greater interest in the political process. But several papers have demonstrated the opposite effect: it gives disproportionate voice to those who are apathetic and therefore likely to vote more randomly.

Whatever one’s views on the duty and right to vote, there is deep problem about punishing non-voting. On merely practical grounds it is likely to give the state immense powers of harassment. Some Gujarat government officials have been quoted as saying that one of the penalties under discussion is denying BPL cards to those who do not vote. Not having prescribed punishment for not voting but making it mandatory is itself an odd interpretation of democracy.

A growing democracy requires a diversity of dispositions. Voting is an important duty. But giving the state power in the name of saving the people from themselves is undemocratic practice. For me voting must remain an act of choice not forced.

 

[yogeshkalher]

Restrictions OR Compulsions in modern world
won't lead us forward.

Mr. Modi has done a good job by making voting compulsory.

Our bulk of society do not do their social duties by choice. Majority of population do their work or duty only when there is some sort of sanction or fear of punishment. In every election you will find less voting percntage in rich colonies, among educated and well positioned people.

Free will is a great concept but how many people do exercise this free will in prudent manner. Our society has not attained that maturity that reasonable restrictions should not be imposed and bulk of society is still not following right path.

Dande ke dar se kam karne ki aadat padi hui hai.

 

[anil_rathee]

I Agree with you Yogesh....

Specially the so called educated responsible junk of people (like us - I am also one of them) do not understand there responsibility to nation.....
We just talk of the failure of Govt on various front but do not participate in democratic process of forming a govt because of our much hyped busy life schedule... We should take time to perform our duties towards nation and imposing it with rule will certainly help to amke democracy more effective

Mr. Modi has done a good job by making voting compulsory.

Our bulk of society do not do their social duties by choice. Majority of population do their work or duty only when there is some sort of sanction or fear of punishment. In every election you will find less voting percntage in rich colonies, among educated and well positioned people.

Free will is a great concept but how many people do exercise this free will in prudent manner. Our society has not attained that maturity that reasonable restrictions should not be imposed and bulk of society is still not following right path.

Dande ke dar se kam karne ki aadat padi hui hai.