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Democracy is being considered the best form of all types goverence and voting is a democratic instrument to achieve democracy. “Majority is always right” guiding principle of this form of goverence. In today’s world where big wars are being fought in name to establish democratic rules in all part of globe, every organizations nationals or internationals talk of its democratic structures to prove themselves a true progressive. In this scenario where democracy has become a way to one’s credential, now question is how democratic you are? The simple way to find one’s democratic value is the number of members voting for them to govern, otherwise voting % in any democratic process to elect their goverence. Following are the table of world democracies’ voting behaviors to elect theirs goverence. country Lower voting% Years Lower voting% Max.voting % Years Max.voting % Compulsory voting USA 38.8 1946 63.1 1960 no India 54.4 1980 67.1 1998 no UK 57.6 1950 81.6 2001 no BANGLADESH 45.3 1988 64.6 1996 no Pakistan 31.5 1997 46.9 1977 no AUSTRALIA 78.1 1983 91.8 1946 yes CANADA 54.6 1960 75.4 1958 no SWEDEN 75.6 1958 88.5 1982 no BELGIUM 42.0 1946 94.3 1981 yes BRAZIL 9.7 1947 81.0 1998 yes There are 239 countries in world map out of these 189 has democratic character in their goverence, all international organizations like United Nations, WHO etc work as democratic unit to make them universal acceptant. Now when you find democracies every where then come the question of quality democracy. Every democratic system is powered by participation of its members, which are the real soul of democracy. Percentage of members’ participation is directly proportional to the quality of particular democratic unit. As above shown table clearly support that those democracy like Australia ,Belgium ,brazil which made suffrage compulsory for their citizens, come out with higher voting turn out as compare to those like India, United States where voting are voluntary. It is a very hot debatable topic whether to make voting compulsory or not, both sides support their claims. But all consider voting % as credentials of any particular democratic unit, difference in opinions are to its practical implementation. The importance of 100% participation in this form of goverence is never denied by opponent of compulsory voting in all around the globe. Acceptance of importance is first legitimate reason to go for it. The main opposition to this concept is that it opposes the freedom concept of democracy. We are living in today’s civilized society in which we are bounded by different stings to each other, making our world a global village. Where development is every body’s business, it requires some sacrifices and some adjustments with one’s freedom, to feel good for all. One will get complete freedom only in Himalayas. So talking of complete freedom while living in a global village concept is not a worth while argument to profess. Another opposition of compulsory voting is that it forces its participants so they vote under some psychological pressure, which can effect their decisions to elect their representatives. This aspect of opposition should be dealt with great amount of sincere planning like making provision for negative/suggestive voting. This will provide multi choice to each participant to vote, which will ease the some type of psychological pressure on voter’s mind at the time voting. Because more options means more time to think on subject and resulted into probable best as compare to confined yes and no or this and that. The democracy is a human trial to govern them by virtue of majority wishes, where every wish is equal important so not expressing one’s wishes is contrary to idea of development. Thus compulsory voting will only enhance the performance of democracy and not curtail the natural freedom of individual. Dinesh Singh Rawat Special correspondent www.abcnesnetwork.com |
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