WHO CAN VOTE?

 Voting System in India

The Indian Constitution confers the voting rights on any individual who:

 Is a citizen of the country and is above 18 years of age.

 Process of voting registration

 In order to get a polling booth allotted at the time of elections, all the citizens over 18 years of age
need to register themselves as voters and get a voter ID card issued.
 They can also do the same by filling up and submitting Form-6 to the Electoral Registration Officer.
Voters aren’t allowed to enroll from more than one place. Further, the voting rights are restricted to
the current place of work and residence.

 Voting rights for criminals

Convicted criminals and prisoners are banned from participating in the elections as voters. On the same
note, those with unstable mental conditions are refrained from voting. That said, lobbying efforts are ongoing
from various states that argue for greater human rights for prisoners. According to them, prisoners too are
citizens of the country—and therefore, part of the Republic—and thus deserve equal participation in elections.
However, the cause has not found widespread support yet.

 Voting for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)

In order to qualify as a voter, the person must reside in the particular constituency. Thus, NRIs are
prohibited from participating in the voting process, except in one case. If the NRI happens to be an Indian
citizen employed under Government of India and is currently posted overseas, he or she may get registered as a
voter.
  Use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)

EVMs were introduced by the Election Commission in 1981 in a small district of Kerala. The machines
require only a single press of button to cast the vote, reducing manifold both the time taken to conduct the poll
and the time required to process and declare results. Their use has brought about a sea change in the way
elections are conducted in India. However, as various Public Interest Litigations (PILs) have argued, the
machines are not tamper-proof and may be easily manipulated.

To overcome these limitations, the Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system has been adopted,
which shows a printout of the vote just cast by the voter, confirming that the vote was counted in favour of the
party intended. This paper trail can later be used to verify the data obtained through the machines, should a
case of suspicion arise.
 WHY SHOULD WE VOTE?
Voting is one of the fundamental processes which is instrumental in the development of a healthy
democracy.
If you are one of those people who think voting is a complete waste of time, and keep on complaining
about the way the government which is in power is a total failure, then it is time you yourself realize the
importance of voting, and do your bit towards enhancing the functioning of the government.
Though it is an election for a commissioner, governor, state official, legislator or president, it is the
people of a nation who have the right to put forward policies that will affect:
 The town,
 Your job,
 Your country,
 Your taxes,
 And your overall life through the governing bodies.

 Fundamental Right

This is the most basic reason as to why one should go out there and vote. You have the right and
moral obligation of choosing the elected members and the government that you want. Every citizen needs
to put in his or her say as to who they want at the helm of things. Voting is privilege you should not take
for granted.

 Value Your Opinion

Voting ensures that your opinion is taken into account while appointing the person who holds the
reins of power. People who are elected have the power to formulate educational policies which are
instrumental in shaping the future of children, and hence, the future of the nation itself.

 The Right Representative

Elected representatives have the power to take decisions over some of the most vital issues that affect
our lives like:
 Health care,
  Highways,
 Jobs,
 Taxes,
 food

. So would you be comfortable in letting 'anybody' capture these powers, without exercising your
right to vote?

 The Right Representative

A low voting turnout eventually does not represent the true result that could have been. It may happen
then a particular candidate or government comes to power, simply because its supporters turned out to
vote in larger numbers, while those of the opposition didn't bother as much. The results, in this case,
though completely valid, won’t reflect the overall true and real picture.

 Correct Message

In a democratic system, voting simply translates to sending out the right message to the government.
It is only fair that a non-performing government should be punished, and one that has been doing a good
job be appreciated and voted to power. And this is the responsibility of every citizen of the country.

 Effortless Task

All those who say or feel that voting is a big task, think again. There are so many things we do daily
that take up so much more of our effort. Voting is one of the easiest things to do, so there should be no
excuse as to abstain from this task.

The next time there is an election in your country, state or town, think of the people who are living under
tyrannical dictatorships, or are under curfews and cannot exercise their right to opinion. Your right to vote
is your right to expression and opinion. Do not take your right for granted. Try to appreciate the power of
voting, by exercising it.