Compulsory voting
Topic: Electoral Reforms: Money, Criminalisation and Simultaneous Elections · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Compulsory voting means a law that makes voting a legal duty. People who do not vote may face a penalty. Australia is a well-known example. India has no such rule for Lok Sabha or assembly elections, because voting is a right, not a duty. Supporters say compulsory voting would raise turnout. Critics say it forces people and is hard to enforce in a large country.
Example
In 2009, Gujarat passed a law making voting compulsory in local body elections. The Gujarat High Court stayed it, which means put it on hold, in 2015. So compulsory voting has not come into force anywhere in India.
Don't confuse with
- Right to reject: this would mean a fresh election if NOTA gets the most votes. It is about how votes are counted, not about forcing people to vote.