Compulsory voting not possible |
Indian government on Feb 26, 2016, promised to carry out electoral reforms but turned down a request for introduction of compulsory voting citing practical reasons. Union Law Minister Sadananda Gowda said in the Lok Sabha while speaking on a discussion on a private member`s bill on introduction of compulsory voting. He added that electoral reform is the need of hour...Government is looking at i. While initiating the electoral reforms, he would take into account the suggestions made by the members during discussion. The bill was later withdrawn by BJP member Janardan Singh Sigriwal who had moved it earlier. Gowda said though he appreciated the intention of the members, it would not be possible for the government to introduce compulsory voting and penalise those who failed to exercise their franchise. The entire judicial system would collapse if it is required to take action against 25 crore voters who do not exercise their right to vote, he said, adding that Election Commission has been taking steps like observing January 25 as the National Voters Day to encourage people to vote. Compulsory voting may infringe the rights of each individual voter. It should not be by coercion," he said, adding that it could go against democratic principles. He cited several reports and views including a Law Commission report which do not favoured compulsory voting in India.
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