Thread: Is negative voting/refuse to vote true?

M Section 49-O of the Constitution

Did you know that there is a system in our constitution, as per the 1969
act, in section "49-O" that a person can go to the polling booth, confirm
his identity, get his finger marked and convey to the presiding election
officer that he doesn't want to vote for anyone!

Yes such a feature is available, but obviously these seemingly notorious
leaders have never disclosed it. This is called "49-O".

Why should you go and say "I VOTE NOBODY"... because, in a ward, if a
candidate wins, say by 123 votes, and that particular ward has received
"49-O" votes more than 123, then that polling will be cancelled and will
have to be re-polled. Not only that, but the Candidature of the contestants
will be removed and they cannot contest the re-polling, since people had
already expressed their decision on them.

This would bring fear into parties and hence look for genuine candidates for
their parties for election. This would bring about a change in our whole
political system. It is seemingly surprising why the election commission
has not revealed such a feature to the public....

Please spread this news to as many as you know... Seems to be a wonderful
weapon against corrupt parties in India... show your power, expressing your
desire not to vote for anybody, is even more powerful than voting... so
don't miss your chance.

So either vote, or vote not to vote (vote 49-O) and pass this information.
.."Please forward this to as many as possible, so that we, the people of
India, can really use this power to save our nation" use your voting right
for a better INDIA.

After reading this in mail i went to the site of Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice. . I got copy of constitution from there in pdf. I was not able to find any thing in there. Can any one confirm if 49-O is true or what?

The Truth about 49-O:

If an elector, after his electoral roll number has been duly entered in the register of voters in Form-17A and has put his signature or thumb impression thereon as required under sub-rule (1) of rule 49L, decided not to record his vote, a remark to this effect shall be made against the said entry in Form 17A by the presiding officer and the signature or thumb impression of the elector shall be obtained against such remark.
This Infers that in no case will there be a re polling in the said constituency, however the negative/neutral vote is registered and counted so as to cross check on the total number of votes polled. VoteIndia.in encourages Voters to cast a protest vote incase they feel there is no right candidate to vote for.

Here is what the Election Commission has to say on NEGATIVE / NEUTRAL VOTING:

The Commission has received proposals from a very large number of individuals and organizations that there should be a provision enabling a voter to reject all the candidates in the constituency if he does not find them suitable. In the voting using the conventional ballot paper and ballot boxes, an elector can drop the ballot paper without marking his vote against any of the candidates, if he chooses so. However, in the voting using the Electronic Voting Machines, such a facility is not available to the voter. Although, Rule 49 O of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 provides that an elector may refuse to vote after he has been identified and necessary entries made in the Register of Electors and the marked copy of the electoral roll, the secrecy of voting is not protected here inasmuch as the polling officials and the polling agents in the polling station get to know about the decision of such a voter.

The Commission recommends that the law should be amended to specifically provide for negative / neutral voting. For this purpose, Rules 22 and 49B of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 may be suitably amended adding a provision that in the ballot paper and the particulars on the ballot unit, in the column relating to names of candidates, after the entry relating to the last candidate, there shall be a column ìNone of the above, to enable a voter to reject all the candidates, if he chooses so. Such a proposal was earlier made by the Commission in 2001 (vide letter dated 10.12.2001)

Source voteindia.in

Since a legislation would have to be passed to bring this into effect, by the very politicians who would be affected by it, such a feature would never see the light of the day.

Surely a very good suggestion. It should be implemented. It will be like the right to information act. At least you can raise your question. More youngster will use this facility as they are natural offenders of politics and politicians. So they will have to work more on educated voters and will have to come up with promises focusing them. Most of them they may not fulfill. But at least they will know how an educated voter thinks.

Rep+

Yes it is actually true ... but cant see it anywere as the politicians will not let that option be added in the voting panel....!

Good Info....Repo for you..

I strongly believe we must have negative, no-one option for voting