LS polls: Best indicator of voter reform efforts would be in the turnout

In the 1951-52 general elections, the first ever in India, devises had to be found to enable the largely illiterate voters suddenly bestowed with adult franchise to vote and how to. The newness of the exercise even as the Independent India’s governance machinery was finding traction perhaps needed to spread it from October of one year to February of the next. Organising the process and getting voters to learn it as well as understand its significance perhaps explains the long-drawn schedule then. [caption id=“attachment_1469935” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. AFP[/caption] It wasn’t the need to spread the dates, as is now the case, because the security forces had to be moved from one place to another to ensure fair polling. The declining political culture required avoiding single-day polling across the country. It seems quite odd that sixty-two long years after that first election held amid the euphoria of being a new nation, the voters have to be, first, motivated to vote and not go away on a pleasure trip of a few days and skip their duty. Secondly, and equally importantly have the need to try to educate the voters, a task undertaken by the Election Commission, to vote for honest candidates. India isn’t what it was during the first polls. At least one on count it was far better off because there were self-less politicians motivated by a noble cause. Many candidates then were newbies though giants too were in the fray. It didn’t matter that parties had different views but remained civil in their conduct towards each other in their campaign and in parliament. Chests swelling with pride, we speak of India as the largest democracy. But the irony is in needing a movie-star to persuade voters who inspire fantasies to look for honest candidates is not to be lost. In this case, Aamir Khan carries conviction so the Election Commission to rope him in him in to spread the message of citizens’ duty. He stands taller than our politicians, social workers, thanks to the two editions of Satyameva Jayate series where he managed to lay bare the ills of the society, especially its politics. With that, the message and the messenger merged into one awesome brand. What he brought to the small screen was not unknown stuff; they were what we took in our stride. The Nelson’s eye to the evils of all kind at the same time foster intense cynicism and the urging to sort that out surfaced in the attempts of a fledgling party to stand up, dare the system. The system, right from the time the demand for a stringent anti-graft mechanism started, has sought to quell the attempt. Politicians don’t want people like us to be there. The much sought NOTA option on the electronic voting machine is a fortunate coincidence. It may require us to wait till the next elections to state assemblies in a few states few months hence for the voter getting a voter-verified paper audit trail. That’s a significant proof of voting than the indelible ink which a senior politician urged wiping off to double-vote. NOTA met a crying need of the electors to tell the establishment that they desired none on the ballot, conveying their disgust at the depths to which politics has been plunged to by the politicians. It rightly presumes the disenchantment among the people with the system where promises follow apathy till the next round when votes are again sought. NOTA, in itself a remarkable progress towards electoral reform, also would take time to find traction. In the elections to the assemblies held in a few states a few months ago did not find many exercising it. It would have been if only those who have objections do not rejoice in the facility but use it to send a message, loud and clear. The EC has progressively brought in changes, most notably with the decision to provide voters with identity cards though it has not yet become universal. This needn’t have taken so long — almost three decades since TN Seshan brought it to the fore as a single means to avoid fraudulent voting. Now, EC would provide the voter slips, not the political parties, reducing one interface between them and voters. The vote-seeking was not allowed to spread to the walls — any slogan-writing on them is an offence under the Model Code of Conduct. The spaces where posters can be put up have to be pre-approved by the district returning officers. Blaring of loudspeakers late into the night is prohibited. These brought some calm, but has not yet enthused the higher voter participation. Except for its inability to stop fraudulent electoral expenses, the EC has been unable to bring in significant rules to the game when politicians and political parties are forced to go on their best behaviour. It is nobody’s claim that behind the scenes, some mischief or the other is not brewed, voters bribed, caste differences are used, and parties in power derive advantage of the exchequer. Tragically, however, the voter needs to be reformed. He needs to decide not to accept a bribe per vote making elections cheaper. He needs to decide that the EC’s advocacy for carefully choosing a candidate was something he did not require to be told for it is as simple and important as good hand-washing practices. If not, an infection can only spread. Probably this could be one of the tougher tasks taken up by the EC. Since we hear it being said from every corner that this is a tightly fought election, the best indicator this voter reform efforts would be in the turn out. If more come out to vote, the more vibrant this democracy becomes. In the 17th general election since Independence, we need to see that.