Supreme Court (SC) today gave a landmark order to Election Commission (EC) to provide a ‘none of the above’ option in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to allow voters to reject all candidates contesting an election in a constituency.
The court upheld the argument of petitioner, the People's Union for Civil Liberties, an NGO, that a voter has the right to record disapproval of all candidates listed.
Election commission sources said this will be done starting with the next set of assembly elections this year.This means voters in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram - where Assembly elections are due in November - will have the right to reject option.
The apex court thinks this order will “lead to systemic change in polls and political parties will be forced to project clean candidates.” The court also thinks this will ensure that people get “good governance”.
Bench that gave the order was headed by Chief Justice of India P. Sathasivam.
According to SC negative voting via RTR would lead to systemic change in elections and political parties will be forced to project clean candidates.
Justice Sathasivam said, "Democracy is all about choices and voters will be empowered by this right of negative voting. Negative voting will send a clear signal to political parties and candidates as to what the voters think about them."
DEBATE on the Matter
Right to Reject is still matter of intense debate as will be clear by following points.
The court upheld the argument of petitioner, the People's Union for Civil Liberties, an NGO, that a voter has the right to record disapproval of all candidates listed.
Election commission sources said this will be done starting with the next set of assembly elections this year.This means voters in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram - where Assembly elections are due in November - will have the right to reject option.
The apex court thinks this order will “lead to systemic change in polls and political parties will be forced to project clean candidates.” The court also thinks this will ensure that people get “good governance”.
Bench that gave the order was headed by Chief Justice of India P. Sathasivam.
According to SC negative voting via RTR would lead to systemic change in elections and political parties will be forced to project clean candidates.
Justice Sathasivam said, "Democracy is all about choices and voters will be empowered by this right of negative voting. Negative voting will send a clear signal to political parties and candidates as to what the voters think about them."
DEBATE on the Matter
Right to Reject is still matter of intense debate as will be clear by following points.
- Election Commission had supported this stand. It had recommended that the government amend rules to include this, but that had not been done.
- Centre(Government) had opposed the proposal. It contended that an election is meant to elect and not to reject. It also argued that including a rejection button will confuse voters and will not serve any purpose.
- Activists have proposed that if more than 50 per cent of those who vote reject all candidates, there should be a re-election in that constituency.
- The BJP had asked for a detailed debate.
The Left had sought clarity on what purpose it hoped to serve.
The AAM ADMI PARTY SUPPORTS RIGHT TO REJECT - Anna Hazare had campaigned extensively for poll reforms that would include both the right to reject and the right to recall an elected representative if the electorate is dissatisfied with his or her performance.
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