The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : First phase polling

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Friday, Apr 23, 2004

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

First phase polling

Sir, — That only 50-55 per cent of the 175 million voters exercised their franchise in Tuesday's first phase of polling is disappointing.

If about 50 per cent of the votes are not cast, imagine the distortions that can take place in the relative strength of the various parties, and how the governments that are formed at the Centre and in the States may not really represent the majority.

People, who are the masters in a democracy, should not show lethargy and indifference in choosing their representatives.

S.S. Viswanathan,
Bangalore

Sir, — Despite the day of election being a holiday for all government offices, if the voter turnout is as alarmingly low as 50 per cent, the very purpose of elections will be defeated.

On top of it, a sizeable number of voters have been denied the right to vote due to the non-inclusion of their names in the voter list.

Such deprivation not only frustrates the hopes of the people proceeding eagerly to the polling booths, but also turns the election process into a farce.

H. Narayanan,
Bangalore

Sir, — While bogus voting is bad for democracy, denying the right to vote to genuine voters is worse. The issue must be addressed immediately because there have been complaints from many parts of the country which voted in the first phase that genuine voters were turned away.

Many voters despite having voter identity cards were refused the voting right because their names did not figure in the voters list — an administrative failure.

The only immediate solution in such cases seems to be to open counters for groups of polling booths, where, on the basis of I.D. card, names are entered afresh, and authorisation slips for voting are issued.

N. Narasimhan,
Bangalore

Sir, — It is unfortunate that even after 56 years of independence we have not been able to prepare a complete voters list. This is one reason for the poor voter turnout. People come with a lot of enthusiasm to vote and lose interest when they do not find their names in the voter list.

Why can we not use our IT expertise to prepare a complete voter list?

Talekana Krishnadas Rai,
Bangalore

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