None of the above
In the current state of Democracy, most of the voters vote not because they like a candidate, but because the dislike the other candidate more. Although I agree it is not totally wrong to have that criteria, but that cannot be the choice for long term. I had come across some Student Unions in Colleges which had "None of the Above" (NOTA) listed as one of the ballot choices. In the event of NOTA receiving the majority of votes, all the existing candidates would be disqualified and new nominations would be opened. In my view this gives a tremendous power to the voters and will definitely ensure more serious and sincere agenda to be proposed by the candidates.
Since this choice is absent today, many of the voters choose not to cast their vote as they consider all the candidates equally bad. The other reason cited is that it will make no significant difference if one or the other candidate wins the election. These voters will definitely come back and get involved in the voting process and thus strengthening and shaping the society as a whole.
Today's election process is undemocratic as it does not hear the voices of the people. There is no distinction made between a person who has cast and illegible vote and a person who does not want to vote for any of the candidates. This situation is more like a monopolistic fruit vendor who sells only rotten apples; and the customers due to lack of choice choose the least rotten apples. But introducing NOTA as a ballot choice, the stranglehold on the democracy held by the few powerful political parties will be broken.
There are a few organizations active in promoting this idea:
Committee Against Mediocrity in Politics (CAMP)
NOTA.org
Since this choice is absent today, many of the voters choose not to cast their vote as they consider all the candidates equally bad. The other reason cited is that it will make no significant difference if one or the other candidate wins the election. These voters will definitely come back and get involved in the voting process and thus strengthening and shaping the society as a whole.
Today's election process is undemocratic as it does not hear the voices of the people. There is no distinction made between a person who has cast and illegible vote and a person who does not want to vote for any of the candidates. This situation is more like a monopolistic fruit vendor who sells only rotten apples; and the customers due to lack of choice choose the least rotten apples. But introducing NOTA as a ballot choice, the stranglehold on the democracy held by the few powerful political parties will be broken.
There are a few organizations active in promoting this idea:
Committee Against Mediocrity in Politics (CAMP)
NOTA.org
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