Why We should Vote

When I attended the Sansad Ratna Awards ceremony, one of the speakers told us all why we should vote. It was highly convincing.

Actually, he was speaking against the concept of paid votes and how some people voting for a particular party because they’ve received money or some other freebies is not good for a Democracy. He was telling us how this affects the people in the long-term.

But what’s the solution? That’s when he told us something shocking.

“Stopping this is in YOUR hands.”

Now, how can we be responsible for that? We don’t take money and vote for any party, is what we were all thinking. Then, he said, political parties can only influence around 30% of the people (max) through money. Even this 30% will not vote for the same party, votes will still get fragmented.

But, if middle class and upper-middle class people don’t come out to vote, that 30% will become a major influencer in deciding who wins, he said.

Think about it: He’s right. If the remaining 70% of the people go and vote, the influence of the paid voters can be minimized to a good extent.

After listening to this explanation, I was convinced and I cast my first vote during the national elections, last year. This year too I intend to vote for the TN State Assembly polls.

Only, I am yet undecided on which party to vote for, but that’s a different problem all together 😉

Destination Infinity

So, tell us – do you vote/not vote? And why?

16 thoughts on “Why We should Vote

  1. Ravi

    I haven’t missed single election and I’m not going to miss this time.

    1. Rajesh K

      Great 🙂

      Destination Infinity

  2. SG

    Everyone must vote. It is our duty. But deciding to whom we should vote is a big problem. India is a parliamentary style democracy. Even if the candidate is an honest person, he/she cannot go against the party’s wishes.

    1. Rajesh K

      Ya, it’s more about the party than about the individual. But an entire party gets votes for the individual, sometimes. Its all too confusing!

      Destination Infinity

      1. SG

        That is why I prefer Presidential style democracy. The contestants are not given “ticket” by the party leaders. People elect who will be the contestant. For example, the entire Republican Party leadership hate Donald Trump. But he is voted by the people and leading to be the nominee of the Republican Party for the President of the United States.

        1. Rajesh K

          I ought to learn more about the US political system. Right now, I don’t know much. Why don’t you write a post on it sometime…

          Destination Infinity

  3. Devilish Angel

    Its our duty to vote…

    1. Rajesh K

      It’s also our duty to keep the nation clean 🙂

      Destination Infinity

  4. Jeevan

    From the time I got voter ID I have been voting and I have voted couple of parliament and one state election. I think voting is my right and the EC had done enough facilities for a wheelchair bound to vote, so why miss the chance. I am also undecided yet who to vote but there’s enough time to think vote. Hope the percentage of vote will rose this time

    1. Rajesh K

      That’s great Jeevan. You are an inspiration!

      Destination Infinity

  5. Bikram

    Indeed we must VOte for sure.. Each time here i been in uk I have voted always ..

    1. Rajesh K

      That’s cool Bik. Good to know 🙂

      Destination Infinity

  6. Shilpa Garg

    Yes, we should all vote. What you mentioned makes so much sense, in fact this very thing about 50 % people not voting was explained by Amitabh Bachchan in Bhootnath Returns with the help of Groundnuts.

    1. Rajesh K

      Oh I see, nice to know about Bhootnath Returns and AB explaining the concept.

      Destination Infinity

  7. Sandhya Kumar

    Both of us, I and my husband never missed voting until now, I think we were no in station once. My husband doesn’t like to go our of station on the voting day . He is very particular. Son also votes now, without fail.

    Yes, deciding about whom to vote is a BIG problem.

    1. Rajesh K

      I started voting very late, precisely because of that BIG problem 🙂

      Destination Infinity

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