Democracy, Elections, and the Power of a Single Vote!

Since 2004, low voter turnout in India and especially in city like Mumbai has become a norm. And yet, when it comes to comparison between the previous poll results and the current exit poll results, these dismal attendances do not seem to display any significant bearing. Isn’t that little strange?

Is it because of the new de-limitation, or because of the rise in regional parties or simply due to political apathy that results in poor voter turnout?

Delimitation has shrunk the constituencies and over the years even the quality of our political class has deteriorated. Barring few, none of our leaders personify the qualities of visionaries and colossal leaders like Gandhi, Nehru, Tilak and Patel just to name a few. Although our population hasn’t shrunk, nor the number of voters but people who actually turn up for voting have definitely reduced. And this is evident from the recently held Lok Sabha and the state assembly elections in Maharashtra.

Maharashtra, known for its rich social, cultural, sports and economical contribution with several national leaders, industries, educational and research institutions, flourishing textile mills, educated people, multiple communities and religions and indeed an inclusive, progressive state has considerably deteriorated. Regular load shedding, farmer suicides, rampant corruption, poor infrastructure, increasing slums, inadequate water supply, illegal and unauthorized constructions, rising unemployment, uncontrollable naxalism coupled with international terrorism and the mad clamor for political power has almost destroyed this once glorious state.

The state once boasted of educated leaders like Gokhale, Dadabhoy Naoroji, Ambedkar, Kriplani, Pherozshah Mehta, Dinshaw Wachha, Phule, Savarkar, Achutrao Patwardhan, P.K. Atre, S.M. Joshi, N G Gore, S.A. Dange, Prabhodhankar Thackeray, Y.B. Chauhan, Vasant Dada Patil, Madhu Dandavate, Datta Patil, Mrinal Gore etc who believed in having healthy discussions, debates and non-violent politics.

Today, politics has become a lucrative family business and electoral seats are exclusively offered to close family members regardless of their competencies and achievements. Little wonder, we get to witness several rebels and defections. The educated middle class and the poor find it increasingly difficult to contest in elections.

With less than 60% of voter turnout across the state, coupled with rebels and division of vote banks, the various exit poll results tend to belie the anti-incumbency factor. Invariably it speculates to bring back the earlier government by default. Psephologists and experts prognosticate a marginal difference between the ruling UPA & the opposition NDA and predict the possibility of a hung assembly. In such a situation, UPA and the NDA have no choice but to lure MNS, other parties and the independent candidates to support from outside or join the government. Moreover with several contenders among every party vying for the chief ministerial position and various ministerial berths, would it then come as a surprise to see the rise in defections once the poll results are announced.

The beauty of our democracy is that every election gives birth to new political parties, various alliances and fragile third / fourth fronts that promote new ideology, promise change and print new colourful manifestos selling the same old wine in a new bottle. Since 1995, hung parliament and assemblies have almost become a routine. And this is largely due to political, ideological and voter indifference.

Perhaps we should learn a lesson from Americans who battled for over 100 years, for their right to vote, but then seem to ignore it when they have received it. In India, we were lucky to get our right to vote immediately after independence but like Americans, we also continue to abstain from election. While American politicians strive hard to fulfill whatever they have promised during elections our politicians simply forget their promises made during polls.

Having said that, seldom do we also miss any opportunity to criticize the government and fight for our rights. No wonder voting is merely looked as a constitutional right but not considered as our moral responsibility and duty. Often lower voter turnout indicates a growing apathy for political parties and politicians. It often indicates the growing indifference, laziness, an unwillingness to deal with all this politics, which make people stay away from the polls. People are more concerned about their personal issues, problems that affect their lives; these become the top priorities and therefore don't give a damn about elections. These people would not even bother to learn about the candidates, nor about their parties and their election manifestos. Moreover people don’t find any trustworthy and competent candidates and therefore prefer to abstain from polls.

Apparently, voter absenteeism also suggest that the average Indian still does not understand the power of excercising their adult franchise. The most often heard excuse for not voting in an election is "a single vote won't make any difference." Yet History is replete with instances about the incredible power of single vote. In many cases, the course of nations has changed because of this single vote. If you think that your vote won't make a difference, please consider the following:
Remember it was one single vote of Saifuddin Soz that toppled the Vajpayee government in 1999. In 1645, one vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of England. In 1649, one vote literally cost King Charles I of England his head. The vote to behead him was 67 against and 68 for — the ax fell thanks to one vote. In 1714, one vote placed King George I on the throne of England and restored the monarchy. In 1844 in Indiana on Election Day, a farmer named Freeman Clark lay seriously ill in bed. He begged his sons to carry him to the county seat so he could vote for David Kelso to become a state senator. The old farmer Freeman Clark got to vote for Kelso but Freeman Clark died on his way back home. Kelso won the election by one vote of Freeman Clark. One vote granted Texas (1845) and California (1850) admission into US as a state. In 1875, a one vote margin changed France from a monarchy to a republic. In 1923, by a majority of one vote, they chose Adolph Hitler to become the NAZI Party leader. In the 1960 presidential election, it was one single vote per precincts that made John F Kennedy the President of USA.

If a single vote can make such a difference, do you feel we must make voting mandatory just like they have it in Australia?

Well, this requires some serious discussions and changes in our law. As per election rules, Section “49-O" provides an opportunity to every voter to abstain from election. In such case a person must go to the polling booth, confirm his identity, get his finger marked and convey the presiding election officer that he doesn't want to vote anyone! Unfortunately there is no provision for counting such votes and protecting identities.

Come to think of, we simply cannot afford to sit back and blame the politicians, parties and the system. In time to come we might see few reforms in election rules, but until then, its time we take responsibility and vote in various elections at every level - national, state, district and local and believe in the power of our single vote!