Gujarat plans mandatory voting in local bodies elections

If the state government has its way, Gujarat will be the first state to make the voting compulsory in local bodies.

In the two-day assembly session beginning on December 17, Gujarat Local Authorities (amendment) Bill, 2009 will be introduced and if it is passed, it will make 3.64 crore voters of the state to vote compulsorily in the elections to be held next year, officials said.

If a qualified voter fails to vote for the reasons other than prescribed in the rules, he may be declared a “defaulter voter” and would face consequences.

“It is observed that due to low turnout of voters to discharge their duty by exercising their right to vote, the true spirit of the will of the people is not reflected in the electoral mandate,” said the statement of objects and reasons of the bill.