Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais on Wednesday urged the voters to use their conscience while exercising their franchise. Bais said voters should choose their public representatives with their conscience and wisdom. Voters, while exercising their right to vote, should stay away from any type of temptations like caste, religion, community and language etc. and exercise their vote on the basis of their conscience and their conscience. Every citizen of the country should be aware and understand his responsibility towards the nation. Every eligible citizen who is above 18 years of age should register his/her name in the voter's list by showing that he/she is aware.
The Governor said this while addressing students at the state-level programme organised by the Election Commission in Jharkhand to commemorate the National Voters’ Day.
The Governor said that National Voters' Day also reflects the importance of voters in a democracy. Democracy is incomplete without the participation of voters. Being the world's largest democracy, this day has special importance in making voters aware in India and encouraging them to participate in the electoral process. The Governor was the chief guest in the program organized at Aryabhatta Auditorium on the occasion of National Voters' Day on Wednesday.
The Governor said that the Election Commission of India has been committed to continuously strengthen the world's largest democracy since its inception. The theme of National Voters' Day this year has been kept by the Election Commission of India - 'Vote like nothing, we will cast our vote'. The strength of democracy depends only on the vigilance and awareness of the voters. In a democracy, just being a voter is not an achievement, there is a huge responsibility on the voters and the voter ID card makes you realize your responsibility continuously.
The Governor also said that several people receive benefits under government-run schemes; however, despite taking the benefits, many don’t understand their duty of voting in elections. He said that lawmakers have discussed the possibility of ending the benefits of such people, but I believe that instead of punishing them, they should be made aware of their responsibilities and their importance.
The Governor said that even the uneducated in villages stand in long lines to exercise their rights to vote, whereas, in cities and towns, even the educated don’t vote if they see long queues outside voting booths.
The Governor lamented that the uneducated can be taught, but nothing can be done for the educated people in the nation. He then urged people to realise the importance of their votes and exercise their rights to choose their representatives.
