Voting Is A Duty, Not Just A Right

The article 326 of the Indian Constitution talks about our Right To Vote. With the provision of Universal Adult Franchise, the constitution provides every citizen above 18 years of age, the right to vote. There is no discrimination is made on the basis of caste, creed, colour, literacy levels or gender. But the question is, do we use this right just as we use our other Rights? Do we show a justified amount of sincerity when we decide who to vote for or whether to vote at all or not for that matter? I don’t think so.

As unfortunate as it is, many of us consider voting as just another activity with not much significance. A large number of them even think about Voting Day as simply a free holiday, a day to relax. It is for these reasons that on the day of elections, sometimes the actual percentage of voters turn out to be even less than 50%. If you are one of those people who are under the impression that their single vote can make no big difference, trust me, you are wrong. Elections and voting is what more or less determines the fate of a country for the coming 5 years and that obviously includes our lives.

As many of you must have heard, Democracy is a ‘government of the people, by the people, and for the people’ and elections are what make it that. By electing a suitable and efficient representative, you use your power to participate in the governance of your country. You through your vote make democracy what it should be, by the people, and thus it in turn functions ‘for the people’.

News of Vote Selling is nothing unheard of. Political parties, at the time of elections, go to great lengths to bribe the unknowing poor citizens with food grains and money in exchange of their votes. Some go as far as using liquor as bait for alcoholics to gain their support. Though these activities are illegal, yet the authorities somehow tend to turn a blind eye to these disturbing developments.

Casting a vote is not your right but your duty. It is your responsibility towards the country you call your own and also yourselves. Who to vote for is solely your decision but whether to vote or not is definitely not your choice. It is none but you who is going to bear the consequences of the elections. Whoever emerges victorious is going to work for your society. You are the one who will be affected by the rules and regulations of the new government, whether you like them or not.

Remember, that you have no liberty to complain about something wrong unless you try to make a difference. As the saying goes, “Be the change you want to see.” So make a promise to yourself that these forthcoming elections, you will exercise your Right To Vote with complete efficiency without any bias or selfish motives and strive to make Punjab and with that India, a finer place to live in.