Case for Electoral Reforms

India being a Republic, (1) BY THE PEOPLE (2) FOR THE PEOPLE and (3) OF THE PEOPLE As a citizen, my primary mode of participation is by voting. If I do not participate in (1) (BY THE PEOPLE) by voting, then I am certainly not entitled to the benefits of items (2) and (3) above. Consider the possible results of the following Election Reforms being implemented: (a). Compulsory voting, (b). Criminals Barred, (c). Choice of “none of the above” in the Ballot Papers AND (d). If “none of the above” gets simple majority - Re-election for the seat must be done with new candidates not related by blood or marriage to old candidates. (e) Old Candidates to be disbarred for 5 Years. Now while it is obvious that there are a number of serious legal issues involved here in implementing any of the above nevertheless I am confident that no one can reject the above idea in Principle. Therefore it boils down to only a question of Procedural & legal difficulties and Political Will apart from the obvious problem No 1, i.e., no one willingly relinquishes power. If we the general people understand the above and agree that Voting & Correct Voting is a viable long Term solution to Corruption & Mal-administration by the Present Political Class and support the cause for Election Reforms then necessary Political Will is bound to be generated and all Legal Obstacles are bound to be surmounted. We must understand that we as voters are alone responsible for the Quality of Our Politicians and we get the Politicians that we deserve to get – both as a consequence of Voting and by not voting. I believe that the present system and especially the economics of a career in politics is such that any one elected to power will be tempted to indulge in corruption. So instead of having to depend on the morality of our leaders to fight against temptation, let us change the system and remove the fundamental incentives and alter the economics of Politics in India. It is no longer an excuse that there are no such examples in the world because we are the ones now to be leading democratic reforms and creating examples.