http://www.demotix.com/news/1020223/yaishwaryaj-seva-sansthan-kickstarts-voter-awareness-drive
Yaishwaryaj Seva Sansthan kickstarts Voter Awareness
The voter awareness initiative titled "Hundred percent turnout by
conscious voters, that's the only corruption buster.". begins in Uttar
Pradesh, India. 25th January 2012
With a view to increase voter awareness and sensitize the populace on
the need to vote, Lucknow based NGO Yaishwaryaj Seva Sansthan
celebrated National Voter's Day on Jan 25 , Wednesday to encourage the
voters to participate actively in the election process.
A Voter's pledge was administered to strengthen the campaign and a
poster was released.
Speaking on the occasion Urvashi Sharma , Secretary of Yaishwaryaj
Seva Sansthan said that there has been a declining trend in voters
participation over the decades which is somewhere around 55-60 per
cent in the past few elections. There had been gaps in not just
registration but also in participation in elections.
The voter awareness initiative titled "Hundred percent turnout by
conscious voter , that's the only
Corruption buster." Was inaugurated by the veteran social activist Ram
Swaroop Yadav. The campaign is Yaishwaryaj Seva Sansthan's endeavor to
sensitize voters about the importance of voting to ensure a
responsive, accountable and democratically elected government.
There were children from nearby schools , not yet eligible to vote but
were ready to spread the word on the need to exercise that right, and
do so wisely. These children will contribute to the forthcoming
elections in a unique way by asking their family members to move out
to vote .
"We are planning to gather information on candidates from disclosures
made in their affidavits regarding assets, educational qualification
and criminal background, if any and then share these with the voters .
Yaishwaryaj is utilizing youth power & children i.e. the next
generation and the future with it. We are makeing voters aware that
they are the masters and should ask questions from the candidates
instead of being swayed by demagoguery and caste or communal factors.
We are highlighting the doublespeak of the political parties which
take high moral ground when they speak on the issue of corruption but
in practice give tickets to corrupt and criminal elements. Our
campaign is apolitical and against corruption " told Urvashi.
Speaking on the occasion Social activist Prabhuta said that Voting is
compulsory by law in Australia.Russia allows voters to vote "against
all" candidates.India has Rule 49-O of the Conduct of Elections Rules,
1961 of India only which says "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".After the voter's electoral
number has been entered in the register and he has been identified,
his signature/thumb impression is against his name in the voters list.
The voter then approaches the presiding officer and informs him of his
decision not to vote in favor of any of the candidates. The officer
makes an entry namely "Refused to Vote" against the name of this voter
in the list. Both the officer and the voter have to provide a
signature/thumb impression against this entry. The numbers of such
entries have to be mandatorily recorded in Form 17-A. ECI has directed
that the entries should be compiled and recorded (Item 3, Part-I of
Form 17C) constituency wise and sent to the Commission. This
information may also be obtained through RTI. She elaborated the
disadvantages of rule 49-O for the elector i.e. Secrecy of the ballot
is violated as the voter has to inform the presiding officer and an
entry is made against his name in the voters list. Such voters are
deemed to have abstained from casting their vote. They are not
included in the counting of votes and candidate securing the maximum
number of votes in the constituency is declared winner irrespective of
the winning margin. She further explained the advantages of rule 49-O
for the voter i.e. It provides an option to the voter to reject all
candidates. It also helps to keep a check on bogus voting as someone
else will not be able to impersonate and vote in place of him in favor
of any candidate. If there are more than 50% no-votes , We can press
our point to have "None of the above" (NOTA) option on EVM more
strongly with the Government .
"The Conduct of Election Rules, 1961should be amended to specifically
provide for negative / neutral voting. For this purpose, Rules 22
(Form of ballot paper) and 49B (Preparation of voting machine by the
returning Officer) of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 should be
suitably amended adding a provision that in the ballot paper and the
particulars on the ballot unit, in the column relating to names of
candidates, after the entry relating to the last candidate, there
shall be a column None of the above, to enable a voter to reject all
the candidates, if he chooses so. The voter must be able to register a
vote of disapproval/rejection if they are of the opinion that none of
the contesting candidates deserve to be voted for. Right to vote must
also include the vote of disapproval/rejection. "None of the above"
(NOTA) option enables a voter to officially register a vote of
rejection of all contesting candidates available in the election. Even
the ECI has recommended that the NOTA option must be made available on
the electronic voting machine (EVM) for the voter to officially reject
all candidates." Urvashi added.
Urvashi requested all to Cast their vote at the voice of their
conscience and also if they find no suitable candidate in their
constituency, she expressed the need to exercise 49-O.
In the end , 10 year old RTI prodigy Aishwarya Sharma who turned the
famous song " Kolaveri Di " into " Pollaveri Di "with the specific aim
of encouraging the voters to exercise their franchise in Indian polls
, electrified the campaign by her lively performance.
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