49-O : A likely Solution for Vision 2020

Recently I came to know about this option called 49-O in our election system. So js thot i'll let u guyz know..

In India, an average of 45% of the entire population only register their votes. So, even when a political party does win, it isn't exactly what u'd call a win. Thats why the govt., insists on citizens exercising their right to vote. But ppl refuse to vote stating various reasons, the most common one being that he is not interested in any of the candidates (leave out d lazy ones).

Provision

In 1961, the govt. of India came up with a new option called 49-O, according to which if a voter does not wanna support any of the candidates, he can register with the officer in the booth for the same. Once u fill out the necessary forms, it is officially recorded. This wud not only prevent illegal votes, but also let the election commission be aware of your intentions. If majority of the votes frm a particular ward r for 49-O, then the entire election in that ward wud be cancelled and a re-election wid another set of candidates wud've to be conducted.

Flaw

The biggest problem in this system is that the 49-O option is not included in the EVMs(Electronic Voting Machines) and has to manually registered. Also, ur anonymity is not preserved while registering for a 49-O. Due to this hole, even ppl who know abt the system think twice to register for a 49-O.

Recently, a proposal has been made to include this option also into the EVMs. But discussions r still under progress(abt god knows wat).

So, if u feel the candidates in ur ward r unworthy, u know wat to do...

References

1. The Hindu

2. Election Commission of India

3. Wiki Link

4. Oh Podu