Shockingly, a substantial number of votes cast by qualified graduates and teachers were rejected for improper markings on the ballot paper in the June 9 biennial elections to the three legislative council constituencies in the North Karnataka region.
As many as 12,189 votes were rejected for not properly marking in the ballot paper. A total of 10,455 out of the 85,744 votes polled were rejected in Karnataka North West Graduates’ constituency, 947 out of 14,877 votes polled in Karnataka North West Teachers’ constituency and 784 out of 14,939 votes polled in Karnataka West Teachers’ constituency. A total of 295 voters exercised NOTA option i.e., 214, 38 and 43 in the three constituencies respectively.
Instead of indicating their preference of vote in figures, they used different signs of “right” and “multiplication” marks for the candidates of their choice. Majority of such votes were rejected as they were marked using the “right” mark in the ballot paper.
This, despite the contestants and leaders of political parties informing the voters about the procedure of casting a preferential vote at various public meetings and door-to-door campaigns ahead of polling.
A supporter of BJP candidate M. Nagaraj, who lost to Basavaraj S. Horatti, stated: “These voters are educated people, graduates and teachers… yet, they do not know how to vote! The rejection of so many votes paints a dismal picture on the level of awareness among these educated voters.”
