Voting day isn’t just another holiday in the long list of the holidays 2024 has in store for us. It is the day of duty as a citizen, the day of determining not only the nation’s future, but ours as well as citizens of the largest democratic country, India.
Every 5 years, the day of polling isn’t an additional holiday we await; it is the day of designing our own destiny as we decide the face of India for the next 5 years.
Is voting a superpower? Yes, why not? If I tell you that you can decide who’s going to lead you to your future. Will you disagree?
Let’s dig deeper into about how voting is a superpower:
1.Your one vote is the voice of your expectations and desires.
2. Your one vote is the choice you make to decide how the country should move ahead.
3. Your one vote is the protection of your aspirations.
4. Your one vote is the fuel that keeps the democracy running.
5. Your one vote is the preserver of your culture and traditions.
6. Your one vote is the report of the previous government’s performance.
7. Your one vote is the prophecy of the nation’s state in future.
8. Your one vote is the architect of change.
Why shouldn't voting be considered a superpower, when just one press at the ballot machine, left with a blue mark on your fingertip, can do so many things that aren't even possible with any other act?
Is voting a misused superpower?
Definitely yes, isn’t it? As per the statistical report presented by ECI, 61.46 crore voters cast votes out of 89.6 crore electors in the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
ECI stated in the press release, “The voter Turnout in general elections 2019 was 67.4% and the election Commission of India is concerned about the issue of over 30 crore electors not exercising their franchise and also differential Voter turnout in various states/UTs.”
So, when such a power which is not only a constitutional right but a fundamental right of every Citizen is not exercised, it definitely stands misused. Another way to misuse this power to vote is when your vote is not
It is subject to your own desires and thoughts rather than subject to manipulation and brainwash disrupting the truthfulness of the whole power.
Suppression and coercion when brought into Practice, the whole point of fair voting is scrapped. Lack of accessibility to every voter is another natural cause of misusing power.
But above all, the most criticisable misuse is when the voter deliberately never attempts to make an independent and a well thought choice. If the voter never considers his or her own thoughts and expectations and falls for what the masses believe, then indeed it is the biggest misuse.
If the voter never researches about the candidate and just cast a vote merely in the name of following a norm or supposedly at the influence of anyone, the voter is nothing but an upsetting instrument of democracy.
So, what is the true use of power? Let us point out what the voter must know before voting.
1. Voting is what that keeps the democracy alive and not noting will definitely result in its demise.
2. A fair independent voting requires the action of RTD (research, think and decide).
3. Remember to not vote due to a single parameter of choice, but compare at many aspects. Remember a candidate is not defined by a whole party and similarly, a whole party is not defined by a single candidate.
4. Manifestos of every party are not just to be posted in stories of your social media but to be read with full attention.
5. Don’t fall for manipulations overlooking your own duty as we need to trust the supreme body (Supreme Court) that still exists for us.
6. A voter’s choice shall be independent and protected and you are not subjected to any suppression of your choice because the voter exercises a constitutional right obliged to be protected by constitution.
7. Don’t fall for freebies or schemes that sounds pleasing at the moment but will eventually harm you at one point in future because while voting, the country’s progress must be kept first as our actual progress is only possible when the nation progresses so keep a view towards the larger picture.
8. Your vote represents the evaluation of the performance of the previous government and expectation from the future government.
So, keep in mind all these points as the first phase of election begins, the period which will determine the future of the largest democratic nation. World’s largest election is definitely a matter of serious thought and action. Your one vote matters as it will decide the vision our nation will walk towards. The leader you elect will not just be the head of the central Government but the face that will represent India globally and represent all your aspirations and expectations for the next 5 Years.
In India, voting isn't just a civic duty; it's a vibrant celebration of Democracy, akin to a festival. With a population as diverse as its culture, every vote cast echoes the voice of millions, shaping the nation's destiny. In this grand festival of democracy, each ballot carries the dreams, aspirations, and concerns of citizens from every corner of the country. From bustling cities to remote villages, the power of the vote bridges divides and unites people under the common banner of progress. It's not just about choosing Leaders; it's about ensuring a future where every Indian’s voice is heard and every vote counts. In this colorful tapestry of democracy, voting isn't just a right; it's a celebration of unity, diversity, and the power of the people.
Do cast a vote, do make a difference.
(The author is currently holding the positions of Secretary of Literary and Magazine Affairs, as well as Secretary of Debate and Symposium at KC Das Commerce College. All thoughts and views expressed are the authors own.)
