‘We Are Not Lawmakers, It’s People’s Choice’: Delhi High Court Refuses To Entertain PIL Seeking Compulsory Voting In Elections
2 years ago

‘We Are Not Lawmakers, It’s People’s Choice’: Delhi High Court Refuses To Entertain PIL Seeking Compulsory Voting In Elections

Live Law  

The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to entertain a public interest litigation moved by Advocate and BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay for compulsory voting in the Parliament and State Assembly elections for increase in voter turnout and political participation.A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad said that voting is a right and the choice. The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to entertain a public interest litigation moved by Advocate and BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay for compulsory voting in the Parliament and State Assembly elections for increase in voter turnout and political participation. A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad said that voting is a right and the choice of the people, and asked Upadhyay if there is anything in the Constitution of India which makes voting mandatory. The petition claimed that compulsory voting can help in increasing the voter turnout, particularly among marginalised communities and will also ensure that “every citizen has a voice and the government is representative of the people's wishes.” The plea placed reliance on the system of compulsory voting adopted by other countries such as Australia, Belgium, and Brazil.

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History of this topic

Delhi Assembly elections: Is a lower voter turnout going to prove beneficial for the BJP?
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Delhi Assembly elections: Is a lower voter turnout going to prove beneficial for the BJP?

Firstpost  

Delhi has cast its votes and await the results on February 8. However, this year’s voter turnout has been low in the capital — the data shows it was 60.42 per cent compared to 62.59 in 2020. Of the 11 districts in Delhi, the north-east district recorded the highest voter turnout of 66.25 per cent, while south-east witnessed the lowest …

Delhi Elections See 58% Voter Turnout With BJP, AAP Alleging Fraudulent Voting; All Eyes On February 8
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Delhi Elections See 58% Voter Turnout With BJP, AAP Alleging Fraudulent Voting; All Eyes On February 8

ABP News  

Voting for the Delhi Assembly elections concluded on Wednesday at 6 pm across all 11 districts of the National Capital Territory. Several prominent political leaders exercised their franchise, including Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi, as well as Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Delhi BJP chief Virendraa Sachdeva, AAP chief and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and Delhi …

Delhi Assembly Elections: Rajat Sharma casts vote, urges all to exercise their voting right
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Delhi Assembly Elections: Rajat Sharma casts vote, urges all to exercise their voting right

India TV News  

Delhi Assembly Elections: Rajat Sharma casts vote, urges all to exercise their voting right Delhi Assembly Election: India TV Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma said that if all want to form a strong government in Delhi, they should come forward to exercise their voting rights in large numbers. India TV Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma on Wednesday cast his vote …

Second phase of Lok Sabha polls: From 2019’s 62% to 54.85% now, low voter turnout a high concern in Uttar Pradesh
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Second phase of Lok Sabha polls: From 2019’s 62% to 54.85% now, low voter turnout a high concern in Uttar Pradesh

Hindustan Times  

Despite the Election Commission’s push, concern over low polling intensified in Uttar Pradesh as the 54.85% turnout recorded in eight parliamentary constituencies in the second phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha election on Friday was 7% less than the 62% voting witnessed for the same seats in 2019. Voters standing in a queue at a polling station to cast their …

“Can't Compel People To Vote”: Madras HC Dismisses Plea Seeking To Make Proof Of Voting Mandatory For Availing Paid Leave On Poll Day
11 months, 3 weeks ago

“Can't Compel People To Vote”: Madras HC Dismisses Plea Seeking To Make Proof Of Voting Mandatory For Availing Paid Leave On Poll Day

Live Law  

The Madras High Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking to make proof of voting mandatory for availing paid leave on polling days in the upcoming elections. Adityan had sought directions to the Ministry of Personnel and Training, Labour Welfare & Skill Development Department, and the Chief Election Commissioner to make it mandatory to submit necessary proof of voting to …

Steps to increase voter turnout in elections
1 year, 6 months ago

Steps to increase voter turnout in elections

Hindustan Times  

The past few months have been dominated by speculation about the scheduling of the next general elections. But what has gone relatively unnoticed is an ambitious new strategy launched by the Election Commission of India, called the Turnout Implementation Plan, the latest in a series of interventions by the poll watchdog that began with the Systematic Voter Education and Electoral …

Voting a choice, cannot make it mandatory: Delhi High Court
2 years ago

Voting a choice, cannot make it mandatory: Delhi High Court

Hindustan Times  

Voting is a right and a choice for people and constitutional courts cannot force citizens to vote, the Delhi high court said on Friday as it refused to entertain a plea by Bharatiya Janata Party leader and lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay to make voting mandatory in Parliamentary and assembly elections. The petitioner said compulsory voting has been successfully implemented in countries …

'It's matter of choice': Delhi HC rejects PIL seeking compulsory voting in Parliament & State Assembly
2 years ago

'It's matter of choice': Delhi HC rejects PIL seeking compulsory voting in Parliament & State Assembly

India TV News  

Delhi HC on compulsory voting: The Delhi High Court, on Friday, rejected a Public Interest Litigation seeking direction to the Centre and Election Commission of India to take necessary steps to make voting mandatory in the Parliament and State Assembly elections. The Petitioner Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, a practising Advocate and BJP leader had also sought direction from the Law Commission …

PIL In Delhi High Court Seeks Compulsory Voting In Parliament, State Assembly Elections To Increase Voter Turnout
2 years ago

PIL In Delhi High Court Seeks Compulsory Voting In Parliament, State Assembly Elections To Increase Voter Turnout

Live Law  

Advocate and BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay has filed a public interest litigation before Delhi High Court for compulsory voting in the Parliament and State Assembly elections for increase in voter turnout and political participation.Upadhyay has also prayed that Law Commission of India be asked to examine various Supreme Court rulings on the right to vote and prepare a report …

Kerala records highest voting turnout in 30 years, all parties hopeful for victory
5 years, 10 months ago

Kerala records highest voting turnout in 30 years, all parties hopeful for victory

Op India  

After the conclusion of voting in all 20 Lok Sabha constituencies in Kerala on the third phase on 23rd April, the state has recorded its highest ever voter turnout in 30 years. The BJP, on the other hand, is hopeful that the high turnout would let them make inroads into the State’s politics. Kannur had the highest voter turnout of …

Voting not a fundamental duty, can’t be made compulsory: Centre to SC
7 years, 8 months ago

Voting not a fundamental duty, can’t be made compulsory: Centre to SC

Hindustan Times  

Exercising one’s franchise is the fundamental right of every citizen but not a duty, the NDA government has told the Supreme Court, ruling out the possibility of making voting compulsory in the country. The Union ministry of law and justice’s affidavit, which relied on the law commission’s report to counter the petitioner’s demand, stated that making voting compulsory would be …

Nasim Zaidi says compulsory voting regime not feasible in India due to huge population
7 years, 8 months ago

Nasim Zaidi says compulsory voting regime not feasible in India due to huge population

Firstpost  

Stating that the number of voters in India is increasing, Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said a compulsory voting regime is not feasible New Delhi: Stating that the number of voters in India is increasing, Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi on Saturday said a compulsory voting regime is not feasible to improve it further. Compulsory voting system can help increase …

Gujarat High Court stays compulsory voting rule in Gujarat civic polls
9 years, 7 months ago

Gujarat High Court stays compulsory voting rule in Gujarat civic polls

Firstpost  

Gujarat’s controversial legislation making voting compulsory in civic body polls and imposing a fine for any violation was today stayed by the state High Court which observed that the ‘right to vote’ itself provided right to refrain from voting. Ahmedabad: Gujarat’s controversial legislation making voting compulsory in civic body polls and imposing a fine for any violation was today stayed …

Gujarat High Court halts State Govt.'s move to make Voting Compulsory
9 years, 7 months ago

Gujarat High Court halts State Govt.'s move to make Voting Compulsory

Live Law  

The Gujarat High Court has stayed until further orders, the decision of the Government to introduce compulsory voting in the local body election, which is going to be held in October this year. "The 'right to vote' itself provides right to refrain from voting and it cannot be turned into 'duty of voting'" the division bench of Chief Justice Jayant …

Voting cannot be made compulsory since as it would violate right of freedom of speech and expression.: EC says to SC
9 years, 8 months ago

Voting cannot be made compulsory since as it would violate right of freedom of speech and expression.: EC says to SC

Live Law  

The Election Commission has filed an affidavit expressing its stance in response to a public interest litigation that wants a direction to the commission to frame new guidelines making voting mandatory. The commission said right to vote was not a fundamental right but statutory.“The decision taken by the voter after verifying the credentials of the candidate either to vote or …

Voting cannot be made compulsory since as it would violate right of freedom of speech and expression.: EC says to SC
9 years, 8 months ago

Voting cannot be made compulsory since as it would violate right of freedom of speech and expression.: EC says to SC

Live Law  

The Election Commission has filed an affidavit expressing its stance in response to a public interest litigation that wants a direction to the commission to frame new guidelines making voting mandatory. The commission said right to vote was not a fundamental right but statutory.“The decision taken by the voter after verifying the credentials of the candidate either to vote or …

Gujarat to introduce compulsory voting in local body polls: CM |IndiaTV News
9 years, 9 months ago

Gujarat to introduce compulsory voting in local body polls: CM |IndiaTV News

India TV News  

Gujarat to introduce compulsory voting in local body polls: CM Rajkot/Ahmedabad: Gujarat will introduce compulsory voting in the upcoming local bodies polls, which are likely to be held in October, and the process of framing rules for default voters is underway. "We are in the process Rajkot/Ahmedabad: Gujarat will introduce compulsory voting in the upcoming local bodies polls, which are …

Compulsory voting in Gujarat: Why the "liberals" are wrong on this one
10 years, 4 months ago

Compulsory voting in Gujarat: Why the "liberals" are wrong on this one

Firstpost  

Deepening democracy needs an openness to try out new ways to get people to participate. Compulsory voting is one such way, and it needs to be tested and tried before being rejected as an option The Gujarat bill providing for compulsory voting and 50 percent reservation for women in local bodies, a 2009 legislation that was recently okayed for enactment …

Will you jail those who don't vote? EC Brahma slams Gujarat's compulsory vote
10 years, 4 months ago

Will you jail those who don't vote? EC Brahma slams Gujarat's compulsory vote

Firstpost  

The Gujarat government’s decision to make voting compulsory in local bodies election has not gone down well with the Election Commission, with Commissioner HS Brahma saying the decision ‘may not be correct’. On Sunday, Gujarat became the first state in the country where voters will have to compulsorily exercise their franchise in local body polls with new Governor OP Kohli …

Gujarat gets it wrong: Compulsory voting is patronising and undemocratic
10 years, 4 months ago

Gujarat gets it wrong: Compulsory voting is patronising and undemocratic

Firstpost  

A new law wants to make voting compulsory in low-level elections in Gujarat. That’s why while the idea of compulsory voting sounds like an attractive short-cut by fiat to a more representative democracy. “Why doesn’t the government first make it compulsory for MPs to vote and then force common citizens to follow suit?” challenges Jagdeep S Chokhar of the Association …

PIL to ensure maximum voting: SC issues notice to Centre, EC
10 years, 6 months ago

PIL to ensure maximum voting: SC issues notice to Centre, EC

Live Law  

The Bench of Justice Dattu and Justice Bobde issued notice to Central Government and Election Commission of India seeking a response from them on a public interest litigation seeking regarding maximum voting.The petition seeks a direction from the Supreme Court to the Centre and ECI to frame guidelines to ensure that more citizens cast their votes in the polls.Satya Prakash, …

It will make parties more responsible: Modi
11 years, 5 months ago

It will make parties more responsible: Modi

The Hindu  

BJP’s prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court verdict, giving voters the right to reject candidates on the ballot, and advocated making voting compulsory. However, the Left parties differed with the judgment, arguing that the ‘no vote’ option was a “minor” aspect of comprehensive electoral reforms, which should be debated by Parliament. …

Advani Bats For Compulsory Voting
13 years, 1 month ago

Advani Bats For Compulsory Voting

India TV News  

New Delhi, Jan 26: Amid the ongoing debate over electoral reforms, BJP leader L K Advani today batted for compulsory voting, saying it was not an impossible task to achieve. “What is more important is that the voting percentage should increase and if possible it should be near the cent per cent mark,” he said. “.I don't find compulsory or …

Advani bats for compulsory voting
13 years, 1 month ago

Advani bats for compulsory voting

The Hindu  

BJP parliamentary party chairman L.K. Advani on Thursday advocated for introduction of “compulsory voting” in the country also saying it was not impossible to bring in such a legislation. He also supported the Election Commission’s move to achieve cent per cent voters’ enrolment and wanted the EC to ensure that all the registered voters cast their ballot. "What is more …

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