When India gained Independence, the British did not believe that it would sustain as a single nation owing to the extreme difference in cultures across its various states. They also did not believe that the country could sustain as a democracy for a long time because the majority of the population of the country was illiterate. This is why India is often tagged as a miraculous democracy by the western powers.
A large part of India’s success as democracy goes to its middle-class population, who despite lacking formal education is aware of the political scenario in the country. However, over time apathy has been observed among the citizens towards the political system which has reduced the enthusiastic participation of youth in the elections.
In order to ensure the strength of the democratic system of our country, participation of every citizen is important. For this, efforts have been made by the government, ECI and the social influencers to encourage the citizens of the country to vote.
Let us look at five reasons why every citizen should turn up to vote during elections.
Choose your leader
Mahatma Gandhi has said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” A person who is not willing to take up his or her responsibility towards the country by not voting in an election, cannot complain about the inefficiency or corrupt nature of their leader. If you want your leader to be accountable, the foremost thing one must do is participate in choosing the leader.
Exercise your power
Nothing makes a corrupt leader more powerful than an ignorant population. A citizen must, therefore, vote to ensure that the power of the leader is checked. A leader needs to understand that if he or she does not change his or her corrupt ways, the public will punish them by voting against them. The population has the power to make their leaders work for them instead of another way around.
Opportunity for education
Elections provide an opportunity for citizens to learn more about the country’s democratic system. It also provides an opportunity to understand where the country stands and what it needs to do to progress further. An aware citizen can then help in educating the other ignorant citizens who can then look at the prospective leaders objectively, compare their track records and elect the best leader, instead of getting attracted to the short term offers promised by various parties at the time of elections.
Getting Heard
By casting their vote, citizens may not necessarily be able to get the best candidate elected—politics being what it is—but by avoiding casting their vote they improve the chances of the unsuitable ones winning the polls. In the end, it is only the voter who has to suffer through poor governance.
Take your Responsibility
Although voting is classified as a legal right in the constitution of India, it is a moral responsibility of citizens to exercise this right. Because the whole edifice of Indian democracy is built on the foundation of voting. Therefore, if the citizens do not vote, they jeopardise the existence of our beloved country.
This National Voters Day, let us all pledge to vote in every election in the honour of our democratic republic.
