Mandatory voting is being considered by the Government, Union Law Minister D. V. Sadananda Gowda told the Lok Sabha on Thursday. He did not specify which elections – Parliament or State legislatures – but said the Government would wait for the report of the Law Commission on electoral reforms before proceeding any further.
Replying to questions on electoral reforms, Mr. Gowda said: ``This Government is eager on certain reforms. We are also thinking on the lines of giving voting rights to NRIs and mandatory voting. All these issues are before us. Certainly, a radical change needs to be brought in the electoral system and this Government is committed to it. Only after getting the report from the Law Commission, we can go ahead.’’
He also disclosed that the Government was considering simultaneous elections for Parliament and all State legislatures as was the case in the first post-Independence election. ``It is under active consideration of the Government but only after receiving the report from the Law Commission.’’
Last month, the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Gujarat made voting mandatory for local body elections; a decision that has generated considerable debate across the country.
