This Article is From May 07, 2009

Electorate unaware of 'refused to vote' provision

Electorate unaware of 'refused to vote' provision
New Delhi:

Voters in the capital on Thursday remained largely unaware of the newly introduced provision for them to register their refusal to exercise their franchise.

Let alone using the facility, the voters even did not know that the Election Commission has introduced the provision under which they will not be asked to record their voting even after their electoral roll number are entered in the register of voters.

"We do not know any such provision is there. We came here to vote and we voted," said Anup Verma, a voter at the MC Primary School in Delhi Cantonment area.

As per the guidelines of the Election Commission, if a voter decided not to record his vote, he will have to write -- "Refused to vote".

"This is a good provision which allows people to register their refusal to vote. But the Election Commission should make people aware about it," Nishita Yadav, a voter at the Deen Dayal Upadhaya College in Karmapura, said.

Presiding officers at most of the polling stations said the provision has got lukewarm response.

"Nobody is asking for such facility. Everybody is casting vote. May be it will take more time till the provision becomes popular," R K Nagpal, Presiding Officer at St. Martin Diocesan School, Delhi Cant, said.

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