"NO VOTE OPTION"

Introduce the ‘no-vote’ option in EVMs

With the general elections round the corner, people of India must demand the Election Commission to add an extra option in the Electronic Voting Machines’. Those who feel that the candidates in the fray do not come up to the expectations, can press the particular button to register their democratic right..

Bangladesh, our neighbour has introduced this change in its new election rules that make it compulsory for political parties to register to take part, and give voters the chance to reject all candidates if they think none are suitable. Bangladesh proposed to allow a no-vote option in the new poll rules. Obviously, this was not palatable to many political parties whose leaders are in detention on corruption charges.

In Bangladesh previous elections, unregistered political parties and candidates participated to dilute the votes of a rival. Moreover, elections involved widespread cheating including multiple voting, wildly doctored voter rolls, intimidation and bribery. Under the new rules announced recently, a parliamentary candidate will be allowed to contest three seats simultaneously instead of the previously allowed five.

The picture is very similar to what one sees in our own country – new voters are coming of age, but they are reluctant to go to the polling booths to exercise their franchise. The common reply that one hears is – ‘What is the use; the old-timers will get elected in any case because of the corrupt system?’ They do not realise that the corrupt system survives due to lack of representation. The need for the provision of a negative vote has been felt for long and has been voiced several times, but it has not met with the approval of the decision makers because they know that if such provisions are introduced, the present elected members might not get re-elected.

With one more general elections round the corner, it is high time that the election commissioner puts its foot down firmly and insists on adding an extra option in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) – ‘None of the above’. Those who feel that the candidates in the fray do not come up to the expectations can press the particular button to register their democratic right. That would act as a deterrent and eliminate the chances of proxy voting, false voting etcetera. Normally, political parties resort to such underhand tactics when there are empty ballot booths and voters do not turn to decide the fate of the candidates.

Non participation in the democratic process encourages the mischief makers to have a field day. If a small country like Bangladesh which has a infnatile history of fragile democracy can take the bold step of ‘no-vote option’, there is no reason why we cannot do so.