In terming the idea of compulsory voting impractical and virtually shooting it down, the Chief Election Commissioner only reiterated a widely-held view in the world’s most populous democracy. The government had already rejected the idea. The concept, mooted some time back by a national alliance, was never likely to take firm roots given the sheer numbers involved in every election in India, with a nationwide voter base of 814.5 million. The average national turnout in 2014 was 66.38 per cent, which means about 274 million didn’t cast their vote. Imagine if voting was compulsory, and the penalty was jail, how many people would have to be imprisoned. Far beyond the practical problems, would it be democratic to force everyone to vote?
The idea of compulsory voting, in force in 22 countries, including Brazil, with a population over 200 million, is anathema to the first principles of a free country. In Australia, where too voting is compulsory, failure to vote would cost a person $20. Given our notorious lack of regard for rules and regulations, any compulsory chore is the least attractive to any Indian. What the Election Commission has done through awareness campaigns involving popular celebrities is quite phenomenal in itself. We should be proud that over 540 million came forward to indicate their preferences in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Of course, some would have also used the “None of the Above” provision. NOTA’s very existence is an argument against compulsory voting. In any case, compulsory voting is not as democratic as people may have been led to believe.
