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Explore the idea

Last Updated 24 December 2009, 17:19 IST

The Gujarat government’s decision to make voting compulsory in local body elections has kicked up debate on the need, feasibility and practicality of introducing this at the national level. The move has been prompted by poor voter turnout in elections. In the recent general elections for instance, cities like Mumbai and Bangalore saw low turnout. Unlike in areas like Jammu and Kashmir, where low turnout is linked to boycott calls by separatists, fear of militants and alienation from the Indian state and its democratic processes, in vast parts of the country, it has to do with voter apathy. Mandatory voting will force these apathetic citizens to exercise their franchise. Gujarat will give voters a none of the above option. That is, if none of the candidates in the fray measures up to a voters expectation he can choose not to vote for anyone.

Mandatory voting involves compulsion. Introduction of an element of coercion into the democratic process goes against the notion of freedom, which is fundamental to democracies. Moreover, forcing people to vote does not address some of the underlying reasons for low voter turnout, such as poor quality of candidates, declining faith in democracy and so on. Besides, how is the Election Commission going to enforce the rule on such a large electorate? Over 714 million people were eligible voters in the recent general election. And what punishment will be meted out to those who do not vote? Will they be fined? Or jailed perhaps?

Then there are the costs. Compulsory voting will require identifying, locating and punishing defaulters and this could run into months. The time and funds required to enforce the rule will cost several thousands of crores.

True compulsory voting is not without its problems but it has its plus points. Around 40 countries in the world that have made voting mandatory have seen turnout double. With educated voters turning up at polling booths, perhaps the quality of those who get elected and represent us in legislatures will improve. Politicians cannot afford to take their electorate for granted. They will be forced to perform, just as parties will feel compelled to put up good candidates. With voting becoming compulsory, election authorities will need to do more to ensure that all voters are registered and on electoral lists.

Mandatory voting is no doubt controversial but it is an idea worth exploring seriously. We could assess its impact by observing Gujarat’s experiment with it, not dismiss it without trying it.

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(Published 24 December 2009, 17:19 IST)

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