Those who fail to vote may be fined Rs 100.
The Gujarat government is pushing ahead to make voting mandatory in the coming civic bodies' elections in the state. The rules have been drafted following a notification issued in this regard a month ago.
Under the controversial proposal, those who fail to vote will be made to pay a fine of Rs 100 and exceptions will be made only in cases of illness or migration. The defaulters will be given a month to furnish a reply.
The civic body elections in the state are due in October, which is why the government has been pushing to make voting mandatory with a penalty clause.
The turnout in municipal elections is usually on the lower side - in Gujarat the figure hasn't crossed 60 per cent since 1995.
The turnout in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls was the highest ever in general elections -- 66.4%.
But critics have pointed out that the law could be a violation of the constitution.
In 2009, former Governor Kamla Beniwal had sent back the Gujarat Local Authorities (Amendment) Bill twice, saying it was "against the principle of individual liberty".