Bengaluru: Voting should become mandatory and a system should be in place to punish all those who fail to cast their votes, said Governor Vajubhai Vala here on Wednesday.
At a function organised by the BBMP on the occasion of National Voters’ Day, he said, “Until voting is made mandatory, efficient candidates cannot be elected to power. Only this way, citizens will be able to elect honest politicians without any association of caste, creed and religion."
He said, "In rural areas, over 60 percent of the total votes are polled. Those who do not vote sit in bungalows, roam in AC cars and only criticise the system without casting their votes.”
Many even visit the polling booths, but prefer not to vote. All those who speak about rights guaranteed in the Constitution fail to speak about the fundamental duties. Apart from demanding their rights, they should also be responsible in fulfilling their duties by casting their votes, he said.
If suitable candidates are not in list of contestants, the voter need not abstain from voting, but chose 'NOTA', he said. Voter ID cards were distributed to new voters at the event.
