Poor Voters turnout, Those not VOTING virtually committing a CRIME in IGNORANCE

In the interests of one and all ...

My dear countrymen!

When I was University student in 1975, my English professor who was my Mentor also once talking on voting in election informed me that not voting in Russia was treated as a crime. On my curiosity, he explained Russia being a communist country everything there is a national property and no one holds the right to condemn it. He further told me that how on son's complaint, the father was arrested who was speaking about the poor quality of tea. It was when Russia was undivided and was better known as Soviet Union ( USSR ). 

Remembering his sage advice, I made it a practice that everyone must vote by explaining him in detail the pros and cons of his voting. Though it had always been a Himalayan task for me to convince people for voting as a top most priority.

But ours is a democratic country and we are born free, can live without food but not without expressing our mind. But to my astonishment, It was somewhere around 1985-90, the period I am not sure as I didn't remember exactly, heard Lal Krishna Advani ( BJP) advocating the same prophecy. Today, I feel there was much force when Advani Ji had also vouched for compulsory voting for all and proposed punishment to those who don't vote. 

Some of the good reasons are given below why people must use their voting rights;

1. When they vote, they do their fundamental duty in the first place, behave as a responsible citizen and hence their participation also paves the ways for better governance.
2. By voting they prevent misuse of their votes by voting Mafia.
3. By using NOTA button they can force all the parties to give tickets only to the best candidates.
4. This is the opportunity given once in five yrs to the electorates to speak their mind, for and against.

Sufficiently a large number of people known to me never vote that includes all factions of society including our very own, colleagues, business associates, and friends and it's also an irony that they are all affluent, educated and belonging to upper-middle-class and middle-class people. Such types of people are treated as educated fools, more dangerous for society and country as a whole. As far as voting is concerned, on the contrary, illiterate poor people are sincere, more aware about their rights and responsibilities and hardly ignore their rights of voting. 

This is one of the reasons our policy makers least bothered about the middle and above middle-class and always keen to look after the poor and top echelons of society. In fact, poor have never been in problems because their survival is directly attached to hard work on a continuous basis. They know very well that they shall have to earn daily by doing the jobs they are good at and that suit them too. So having no high expectations they are actually never in crisis for their survival at least. Upper ranks of people always manage to live comfortably regardless of which government is in power due to their clout, reach and money powers. 

It is only the middle class who always bears the brunt and see the surprising contrast here - they don't vote. How funny! Just apply your mind, think and tell me how positive change is at all possible without your participation even half- heartedly?

My surprise knew no bound when I found most of the people did not vote in just-concluded Delhi MCD Election on 23rd April'2017. Only 54% exercises their voting right and 46% people opted to avoid voting on either lame excuses or citing some flimsy ground or in sheer ignorance. Basically,  we people are lazy, ignorant about our basic duty and right and fond of indulging in gossip and always interested in passing the buck on others very stubbornly. They don't want even to listen to others points of views. Simply believing in propaganda putting their brains aside. They have no idea that by not voting how they happen to behave like an irresponsible citizen and indirectly create a bottleneck towards good governance. Just think over it how the better governance is possible when you are not doing your part?

People use the day of voting as a holiday by going on picnics, chalk out their program visiting some places of interests but never treat voting as a necessity and prime duty of life. With such poor mindset of people, tell me how can we expect a better society around us?

It had always been alleged that rigging had been taken place in past elections and it was a regular practice and in existence for quite a long time. People were denied access to polling booths in rural areas where Might is Right is common. As we know, "Necessity is the mother of invention", EVM came as a remedy to voting through paper Ballot to curb malpractices in the election. It's altogether a different matter that there are complaints of manipulation and hacking in EVMs too as alleged by many parties. After Supreme court's recent ruling, fund required for VVPAT was sanctioned to Election Commission. Let us hope next election will be with EVM attached with VVPAT facilities where the voter can cross check by Receipt that his vote is cast for the candidate he has voted.

Although I am doubtful that by incorporating VVPAT with EVM will totally eliminate the possibility of hacking and they will 100% be safe. No. Simply because if it is electronic, chances of manipulation are always there. To my mind, Govt must come out with a better solution which should not only be fully tampered proof but also acceptable to all political parties. In the meantime, age- old paper ballots system should be re-introduced for the sake of transparency and for the satisfaction of all objecting groups until a suitable alternative is found out. 

Govts should also enquire and try to find out why almost all the advanced countries like America, Germany, and Japan....etc who had earlier been using EVMs later shifted to paper ballots? They must have some valid reasons in doing so? People has a right to know them. Also, very surprisingly, why these EVMs. are widely been used by poor countries only?

People must think it deliberately that electoral system is such wherein they get opportunities only once in five (5) yrs to convey their intentions while there should be ample occasions. That too they are not using solely to their benefits alone.

Since independence, there had been a hectic demand for electoral reforms but it is the priority of no political party in power though they kept on making false promises before every election. Even a piecemeal reform is not in sight in immediate future. Somehow NOTA button is there but not much in use. People are now demanding implementation of "Right to Recall" also like NOTA at the earliest. Let us see when it sees the light of the day.

I hope, henceforth, my readers must not only vote themselves but also convince all others to vote in larger good of society and the nation.

JAI HIND.

Writer- Sinha.P.K. Views expressed are strictly personal. Feedback / Criticism welcome at Email -pkmsinha@gmail.com or follow @ pkmsinha.blogspot.in