Gujarat Frames Rules to Make Voting Mandatory in Civic Polls

Ahmedabad: 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%.

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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".

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