Page 140 - Leap of Faith Vol - 2

Leap of Faith Journey of Indian Elections

Delivering free, fair and credible elections has always been members' bills on compulsory voting were introduced by
the priority of the Election Commission of India. But what as many members. This was despite the fact that the
about the electoral participation by voters? Way back in Sixteenth General Elections, 2014 had witnessed a new
1980 the then Chief Election Commissioner viz. S.L. high of 66.44 percent voting. Further, if one considered
Shakdher had expressed dismay at “small number of the entire period between 1998 and 2019, the number of
electors who participate in voting”. He quoted a turnout occasions such bills were introduced was 14.
figure of 52 percent. The ensuing three decades proved The necessity for voter education had been realised as early
little better in this respect than the preceding three. The as 1951 by India's First Chief Election Commissioner
voter turnout figures in three successive elections to the Lok Sukumar Sen. He himself appeared on All India Radio
Sabha – in 1999, 2004 and 2009 – was below 60 percent. several times both during the First and Second General
Elections to educate the electorate on why and how to vote.
The sobering reality of below par electoral participation
was not lost upon our lawmakers. During the period of the Over the decades, while Election Commission of India
16 Lok Sabha (May 2014-May, 2019) alone, six private became seasoned in the art of conducting and

An elderly Apatani voter
shows off her inked finger
and voter ID card

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