Voting in India is a Constitutional right if one is a citizen over 18 years of age. But What is the importance of voting? However, that also makes it optional. It has been a tendency among voters, especially in the urban areas, to treat the voting day as a day of rest. While skipping the vote may not seem to cause any harm, the long-term consequences are disastrous.
Why Should We Vote In India?
It has become a common ritual to talk bitterly about any candidate or an elected leader of any legislative assembly or parliament. The fault-finding then comes down to the ‘System’ and how democracy is not working as it should. However, very little room has been given to ‘What the people can do’ to strengthen the democratic roots and bring about a change in the system. Just as it is the responsibility of the elected leader to fulfill the well-being of the voters, the same is the need for the people of India to contribute to choosing the correct leader for their representation.
Democracy has given people a powerful right- that is to VOTE. Voting is the fundamental basis of democracy’s ‘Of the people, for the people, and by the people’ slogan. Therefore, rather than enjoying it as a holiday, one must vote if he truly wants to contribute to the nation-building process and bring about a change. A Citizen should actually not need to find any reason to Vote. It must be done as a compulsive duty although there is no legal obligation to vote.
Every Single Vote Is Significant
Needless to say, every citizen’s vote is counted in the polling process. If the people are equally divided between two candidates, one single vote can be a game-changer and a decisive factor. We have seen in the past how one vote from an MP can decide the fall of the government. Exactly the same way, a single person’s vote can confirm the win/fall of an aspiring MP or MLA.
Origin of the Change
Apart from the protests, voting is a highly effective medium to have the change that we want in the government. Our nation has already witnessed how a non-performing government gets dethroned by the spirit of wanting a change. In recent years, there is a considerable rise in the voting percentage and people are truly loving to be the ‘Change Makers’. Isn’t it exciting that a person can choose the leader of the country right from the age of 18?
Non-choosers get NOTA
At times, it is possible that one does not want any single candidate to be elected from all who are contesting. The election commission has made a special provision of NOTA. It stands for None of The Above. Hence if none of the candidates fit into your criteria, just hit the NOTA option and voice the opinion. The introduction of this alternative is believed to play a significant role in the future. In the late future, it may also be possible that the NOTA will decide the re-elections with fresh candidates.
A Sense of Pride
We must honor the right of voting given by the constitution of India. The youngsters are well excited to exercise their right to vote as soon as they turn 18. The feeling after having cast a vote infuses a sense of pride for being a responsible citizen. As can be witnessed from the sharing of the inked finger on social media. The trend is continuing to gain popularity amongst the youngers and the elders as well.
Gone are the days when it was required for people to motivate them to vote. The vote share for the General Election of 2014 was 8% higher than the previous election. Voter turnout in the Lok Sabha Election 2019 was 67%. The voter awareness program has become successful in its mission and the vote share continues to increase to date in many state elections. With this increasing voter turnout, we will soon reach the 80-90% golden mark.
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