NEW DELHI: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been moved in Delhi High Court on Wednesday seeking direction to the Centre and Election Commission of India (ECI) to take opposite steps for compulsory voting in the Parliament and State Assembly elections, in order to enhance voter’s turnout, promote political participation, improve quality of democracy and to secure right to vote.
The petitioner Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, practising Advocate and BJP leader also seeks direction from the Law Commission to prepare a report on Compulsory Voting.
The plea stated that low voter turnout is a persistent problem in India. Compulsory voting can help to increase voter turnout, particularly among marginalized communities. It ensures that every citizen has a voice and that the government is representative of the people’s wishes. When voter turnout is high, the government is more accountable to the people and is more likely to act in their best interests.
Compulsory voting has been implemented successfully in other countries, including Australia, Belgium, and Brazil.
These countries have seen significant increases in voter turnout and improvements in the quality of democracy, stated the plea.
The Supreme Court and High Court have repeatedly issued directions in the past to the Election Commission to exercise its powers under Article 324 with respect to superintendence, direction and control of the conduct of elections to Parliament and the State legislatures to redress violations of the fundamental rights and to protect the purity of the electoral process and there is a good reason why the Court must take steps for simultaneous election, plea said.
The Constitution provides for the right to vote as a fundamental right under Article 326. This right is subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by law. Compulsory voting can be implemented as a reasonable restriction in the interest of ensuring the smooth functioning of democracy.
The Supreme Court has also held that the right to vote is a statutory right, and the government has the power to impose reasonable restrictions on this right, further read the plea (ANI)