Bidyut Nath Reward Points : 22200 Member Since : Friday, March 27, 2009
I have heard of an option for the Indian voters to have the right to reject all the candidates in an election with their negative votes? Can anyone provide any information on that?
Posted On : 4/10/2009 11:06:54 PM
Vikas Chaturvedi Reward Points : 14100 Member Since : Thursday, December 20, 2007
With General Elections around the corner, it is not just politicians but Netizens, too, who are busy launching campaigns in cyberspace. But this one isn t about voting for candidates, in fact it is calling for an option for voters to reject all candidates in a particular constituency negative voting is the latest buzzword on social networking sites and blogs. Right at the bottom of the EVM there should be an option of a button saying you don t want to vote for any of the above. That gets registered and counted. That number needs to go out to the public and tell the political class how many people are against any of the candidates. Sharif s Facebook Group called Vote for None of the Above has sparked off debates among voters of all age groups and bloggers, too, are supporting this new train of thought. But will this concept work in India? SC refers negative voting issue to larger bench Despite many flaws, people feel the choice they have of choosing their leader is a big thing for them and also a lot of people we think as corrupt or uncaring are actually much more rooted to their own communities. Versions of negative voting already exist in some countries. In Spain, France, Belgium and Switzerland voters have a blank vote option. Although, they are not in favour of any candidate, they are still counted. Presently, under Rule 49-0 of the Election Conduct Rules in India, a voter can go to a polling booth and then declare in writing that he/she refuses to vote for any of the candidates. In 2004, the Election Commission had recommended the inclusion of the vote for none of the above button in Electronic Voting Machines. A Supreme Court Bench has now referred the matter to a larger bench who will now decide if this concept could really work in the Indian democracy.
Posted On : 4/11/2009 2:46:18 AM
Riya Sen [Guru] Reward Points : 93800 Member Since : Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Yes, u r right. There is a provision in the 1961 Conduct of Election Rules of the country facilitating negative votes by the voters. However, the provision of negative voting has not left the scope for the voters casting such votes to nullify the election of any candidate. A section of the citizens has been trying to spread the idea though launching various sites. The provision of negative voting is incorporated in Section 49-O of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 49-O. Elector deciding not to vote . It reads- If an elector, after his electoral roll number has been duly entered in the register of voters in Form-17A and has put his signature or thumb impression thereon as required under sub-rule 1 of rule 49L, decided not to record his vote, a remark to this effect shall be made against the said entry in Form 17A by the presiding officer and the signature or thumb impression of the elector shall be obtained against such remark Legislative Department Manual of Election Law Vol-II The Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 Part IV Chapter-I . But, since the ballot paper / Electronic Voting Machine EVM contains only the list of candidates, a voter cannot record his vote under Section 49-O directly. He must inform the presiding officer at the election booth of his intent. This violates the secrecy of the ballot. However, with paper ballot a different method was used to waste one s vote, which is stamping on multiple candidates. In fact this was the standard method of giving null votes without violating secrecy before the advent of the EVM. At present, in an election, a winner will be declared irrespective of the number of non-votes . However, a note of every non-vote will be made with the Election Officer, and the total number of non-voters will, presumably, be available under the Right to Information Act, said those participating in the internet discussion. Once, the Chief Election Commissioner of the country N Gopalaswamy said that so far those who don t want to vote go to the booth and sign a form and there is no secrecy of voting. If an additional button is provided secrecy will be maintained. That is what we want. There are arguments in favour of and against the concept of negative voting. It is argued by those against the concept that encouraging people not to state their preferred candidate goes against the spirit of democracy. So far as the suggestion for annulment of elections due to excessive negative voting is concerned, these people argue that annulling an election would result in much waste of public funds spent to conduct polls.
Posted On : 4/11/2009 2:54:48 AM
Siddharth Ray Reward Points : 61200 Member Since : Tuesday, April 07, 2009
The concept of negative voting has long been a topic of discussion. But the fact that a voter can actually refrain from casting his vote for any of the listed candidates and even make it obvious enough by clicking on none of the above button of the voting machine,may not be a distant reality. A public interest litigation filed by a group of human rights activists has revived the subject for debate. The latter will make it clear how many citizens have voted for the winning candidate. Voting doesn t mean choosing for a lesser evil. An Indian lawyer feels that it would be more sensible if the options are made specific to include I don t support the party and I don t support the candidate . This would compel parties to nominate better candidates. After elections people have no way of expressing their views. Active participation in politics is not only through voting for a particular party but through negative voting as well. It will lead to greater participation from people, which is the objective of democratic politics. People don t give an honest reply even in a yes and no questionnaire. A very small section of the society may utilise it effectively for we are still a country with a large number of illiterates. However, it may give a push to people who may have refrained from entering politics due to the bad reputation of politicians around.
Posted On : 4/11/2009 3:14:24 AM
Abhi Tripathi [Guru] Reward Points : 74900 Member Since : Monday, January 07, 2008
Negative voting is an inchoate concept and should not be adopted. First,as the term Election signifies we are electing a candidate and not rejecting one.The exercise would prove useless if such a thing was to take place.It would be a burden on the EC if it has to keep organizing the elections again and again. Second, the voters rarely vote for the candidate.They vote on the party lines.So the choice of the candidate would not make much of a difference.How many of us know about our candidate or make an effort to know our candidates,like going through their past or have a look into their academic backgrounds.Only a minority of us go into such subtleties. Therefore negative voting should be discouraged.It will hold our Democracy to ransom.
Posted On : 4/11/2009 4:03:48 AM
Indravadan Modi Reward Points : 23300 Member Since : Saturday, January 10, 2009
Negative voting might not be considered now but we have to change the system. But what if we dont vote? There is someone usurping out own right, voting on our behalf. Negative voting will at least out a stop to this and we can be sure that with the number of negative votes growing in size, the politician, will one day bend and mend their ways. The day might not be far away, if we all wish it that way. Why should something be thrust upon us which is against our own will, law, morality. This will be a another version of the whistle-blower. Why cant we give it a try. Now, let us make it work. Lets join hands. Lets publicise this. Let more amir khans & other influential figures be a part of it. We are non-political. What we want is a clean administration functioning and serving the nations interests.
negative dissatisfaction is not an answer to the question of who should rule . But who rules you specifically, the quality of who rules you determines how you are ruled. And voting is the only way for you to decide the quality of your elected representatives. If you elect good men and women to your local body/state assembly/parliament, your level of dissatisfaction will also go down. There are, we are told, several other ways to express dissatisfaction. One of them is not turning up for election. But going to the polling booth and registering a protest vote also ensures that someone else doesn t go and vote in your name, something that happens all the time. A negative vote is one way for people to show that, yes, they have a stake in and believe in the system but want a change in the way it operates. I don t think there s anything negative about that. It s far more positive and constructive than merely going and voting without applying one s mind. It signals a desire for reform. When I say, through my vote, that I will not vote for X,Y,Z or A,B,C, I am saying we need better people in politics.
Negative voting helps to bring those who do not want to select any of the candidates to the electoral booths, and express their dissent. But even then, above mentioned condition of a candidate getting elected by very low margin of votes, as compared to the total number of votes being polled may continue, but the polling percentage has high chances of going up and thus could reflect the actual will of people. Though this would actually reflect good governance, this in no way is going to invalidate candidature of any of the contestants, but just that this helps to bring out the best of democracy. It is at last the choice of the people, and to prove the fallacy of depicting common man as a fool, who has no other option other than choosing between two people on the basis of who is less bad than the other. Now, the legality of this issue, as the position stands now is that a voter has the option to refuse to vote after he has been identified and necessary entries made in the Register of Electors and the marked copy of the electoral roll this is in the case of Electronic Voting Machines . In the case of conventional ballot paper and ballot boxes, which was in use before, a voter could drop the ballot paper without marking his vote against any of the candidate. This is as per the Rule 49-O of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 But this throws up the issue of compromising with the secrecy. Secret ballot is one of the characteristic of a democratic poll. Here the polling officials and the polling agents in the polling station have the knowledge of the choice of the voter. So for an effective negative voting, it is important that it should have secrecy.
The issue of negative voting has been in the public domain for long. But what many people did not know was that it is possible. Just before the 2004 elections, the Indian Liberal Group, of which I am a member, put out a note telling people exactly how to go and register a negative vote. Several ILG members in Mumbai exercised it. I am completely taken up by the idea of negative voting. For several elections now, I have stopped voting according to parties, because I feel there is absolutely no difference between the Congress and the BJP those are the only two choices for me . Therefore, I have gone entirely by the candidates they have put up. I believe it is important to get people with integrity and people who will perform into the various levels of elected bodies. Voting for the sundry other candidates has never been an option for me because I don t know them or what they represent also quite a few are absolutely shady or frivolous characters. Sometimes the choices have been very clear because of the outstanding nature of the candidates concerned. But sometimes I have been hard put to choose between the two parties because the candidates have been equally lacklustre but also have not evoked extreme negative reactions and thus warranted a negative vote. In such cases I have voted for one or the other out of instinct, which has not been proved wrong. What do I do if my choice is between D P Yadav, Pappu Yadav, Taslimuddin and Mohd. Shahbuddin or sundry other criminals wanted for rape, murder, extortion, kidnapping etc.? Between Ram Vilas Paswan and Laloo Yadav, who have no compunction about fanning casteist and communal sentiments if you re wondering how I can call these two communal a term we have all reserved for the BJP that will be a subject of a subsequent piece ? Between Jayalalitha and Karunanidhi both condoning corruption and indulging in casteist politics ? Or, assuming that I vote on the basis of ideology and not individuals, what if there is no party that represents my ideology of a free and open society? I could stay away from voting. But I am told it is my duty to vote. But it is also my duty to vote responsibly. So my conscience is torn between two conflicting duties. The only way I can fulfil both duties is a negative vote. Now some argues that this is middle class dissatisfaction with politics that should not be confused with dissatisfaction in general. It also says the purpose of elections is to elect a government, not simply express vague dissatisfaction. In any case, how are ordinary people to express dissatisfaction? They can write letters to the editor, but how many can be published? Taking to the streets is an option, but is that a desirable one? The vote is the only weapon people have. The editorial says negative dissatisfaction is not an answer to the question of who should rule . But who rules you specifically, the quality of who rules you determines how you are ruled. And voting is the only way for you to decide the quality of your elected representatives. A negative vote is one way for people to show that, yes, they have a stake in and believe in the system but want a change in the way it operates. I don t think there s anything negative about that. It s far more positive and constructive than merely going and voting without applying one s mind. Well, it does talk about enabling more people to run for public office, but I don t think there is anything barring you and me from standing for elections. One way would be for people who are dissatisfied to get into politics. A negative vote is a compromise path between armchair fulminations and time-consuming activism. It may not be the best option but is the only one available now.
Posted On : 4/11/2009 4:48:15 AM
suket Reward Points : 500 Member Since : Saturday, May 02, 2009
yes there is a rule for those who dont like any candidate on there area they can ask prosiding officer for 17a register for the non votiong under section farm 49 O. thanks
India being biggest democracy in the world not at all adhering to all democratic principles since from very first general election. the true spirit of democracy lies in respecting the verdict of the all eligible voters. the track record of politicians shows that majority of them are not having minimum educational qualification or don t know to write and read properly.In recent times many of them are facing serious charges of crime at they are allowed to contest the election.therefore when a right thinking voter goes to cast his vote he gets frustrated when he looks at ballot paper because he finds none of them is fit to represent him in legislature. then he should have his say, for that purpose its necessary to have concept of negative voting and ballot should contain option like none of the above .if its not provided he has to go against his conscience and has to vote with blind eye.so there is no real expression of his will but mere performance of his duty for name sake and exercise of his valuable right to vote as responsible citizen of India. when Election rules provides for it nothing wrong in implementing it.when we dont have call back facility in India at least lets assert for our right to cast negative vote
Posted On : 5/2/2009 10:02:11 PM
venkatraman v Reward Points : 500 Member Since : Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Negative voting might not be considered now but we have to change the system. But what if we dont vote? There is someone usurping out own right, voting on our behalf. Negative voting will at least out a stop to this and we can be sure that with the number of negative votes growing in size, the politician, will one day bend and mend their ways. The day might not be far away, if we all wish it that way. Why should something be thrust upon us which is against our own will, law, morality. This will be a another version of the whistle-blower. Why cant we give it a try. Now, let us make it work. Lets join hands. Lets publicise this. Let more amir khans & other influential figures be a part of it. We are non-political. What we want is a clean administration functioning and serving the nations interests.
Posted On : 5/6/2009 3:27:52 AM
Muthyala.Ram Mohan Reward Points : 500 Member Since : Saturday, October 31, 2009
Yes u r correct sir,we have to change the system of election & Rules for candidates for contesting
Negative Voting During Election In India
