Don’t whine, enable voters : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

Don’t whine, enable voters

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

Telangana Today (29-09-2018)

            It is unbecoming on the part of few misguided individuals and leaders of opposition political parties, to thrust the accountability of missing votes on the State Government. Projecting this fallout as an obstacle to conduct free and fair elections, some of them even approached courts.

However, the Chief Electoral Officer of the state has stated, that, there has been tremendous response to the special drive that concluded on September 25, 2018 from public in terms of claims as well as for fresh registration. In fact the registration is a continuous process which can go up to ten days prior to the issue of notification. Indian Constitution has provided several conveniences to every citizen of India to register as voter immediately on completion of 18 years. Unaware of these services, indulging in irresponsible talk by few disgruntled persons, is not healthy to democracy. How can government be made responsible for missing votes?

            A number of principles, procedures, rules and regulations decide the voter registration process. As part of electoral system, constitution has provided for a well defined hierarchy. At the highest level we have an Election Commission of India and in the order of precedence there is a State level Chief Electoral Officer, District Election Officer, Electoral Registration Officer, Assistant Electoral Registration Officer, Supervisor and Booth Level Officer. It is the exclusive prerogative of Election Commission alone to entrust a particular role and responsibility to a particular officer in the hierarchy and the government has no say whatsoever in this matter.

Prerogative of EC

It is the Election Commission that decides as to who should be the state CEO or the Additional or Joint Electoral Officer. Every decision taken by the concerned officer in the hierarchy of electoral office is binding on the constitution but not that of government. Whether it is registering as a voter or removal as per laid down procedure, the power rests with Election Commission and government has nothing to do with that. Then why blaming the government for every lapse as if it is responsible.

As per the People Representation Act, for every constituency there shall be an electoral roll which shall be prepared under the superintendence, direction and control of the Commission. Here again government has no role to play.

The political party in power may have the right to take initiative and educate their followers to register as voters, but, certainly no possibility to remove any vote from the list. Rules and regulations will not agree to this. For a free and fair election, quality of elector registration process and electoral rolls is the most important pre-requisite.

Electoral malpractices like bogus voting and impersonation, in a large part, result from defective system of voter registration. The officials responsible for voter registration are required to be thorough in all relevant rules and laws. Any erroneous application of law will violate the accuracy of rolls and will affect the purity of election. That is why electoral officials take meticulous care in the registration process and nowhere government involves or interferes in this task.

Continuous Process

The Constitution of India has entrusted the voter registration and preparation of electoral rolls to an independent authority, the Election Commission of India. The superintendence, direction and control of whole process of voter registration in Election Commission of India is as per the provisions of the Constitution. The basic law governing voter registration in India is the Representation of People Act passed by the Indian Parliament and the Registration of Electors Rules.

Registration process in India is a continuous process. The electoral rolls are revised annually with reference to First January of the year as qualifying date. Draft of electoral roll for information of general public and inviting claims and objections will be published well in advance. All this is done with complete transparency and everyone has a right for claim and for revision. Then, how is it possible to remove lakhs of voters from the list and that too by government?

Completion of 18 years to an Indian citizen is an important stage in one’s life. By then they become adults. They suddenly become eligible to several rights and may have to shoulder responsibilities too. Instead of pessimistically arguing that nothing is possible in this country, everyone should participate in voting and contribute their strength to Nation Building. This presupposes to become voter and hence everyone should take interest to register as voter.

Instead of waiting for the electoral team visit their residence for enumeration, every citizen on completion of 18 years must take initiative on their own to become voter. We should feel that it is our birth right. Let us not resort to complain that our name has been removed or not there, when elections are due.

          Collective Power

India is the largest parliamentary democracy in the world. Survival of democracy depends on people’s collective power. Everyone should smuggle out some time from their otherwise busy schedule to register their name as voter, confirm that the name is in the list, and if not find out reasons for non-inclusion, see to that it appears in the list and finally participate in the franchise as and when the elections are held. Only when every citizen does this he or she is entitled to become a partner in the development of the country.

Each and every vote that we cast, influences the governance at village, mandal, constituency, town, district, state and country level and to find solutions to national, state and local level issues. The decisive power that the vote has, if necessary may checkmate the elected representatives and make them responsible for all misdeeds. More than anything our voice is heard.

At times the one single vote of each one of us might turn the tables and may become a decisive vote for someone to win. That is the reason why we should be more alert in registering as voter instead of complaining that our name is missing. This is the minimum responsibility. Even the political parties instead of mudslinging, better they impress upon eligible youngsters and educate them to enrol as voters.    

            After becoming a registered voter those who shift their residence need to take initiative to change the address, by informing the election commission, otherwise, at the new place our vote may not find place in the list. Here again it is not correct on our part to find fault with election commission.

There is also well laid procedure to obtain Electronic Photo Identity Card-EPIC. Instead of waiting for it at our residence, better let us obtain from E-Seva centres. Let us not forget to explore every possible opportunity to ensure that we become eligible to cast our vote come what may. It’s very easy to cross check whether our vote is in the list or not.

            When there are umpteen comforts for voter enrolment and confirmation why blame the government and election commission? It’s illogical to allege that government removed voters. Every political party should be on a continuous job of voter enrolment instead of irresponsible criticism.