The Bombay High Court on Thursday asked the Maharashtra Election Commission to consider including the column for ‘Negative Vote’ in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) so as to ensure secrecy.
A division bench headed by Justice D D Sinha was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Thane based doctor Mahesh Bedekar stating that when secrecy is maintained while a voter casts his vote for a candidate, the same should also be ensured when a person wants to cast a negative vote.
“By casting a negative vote, the voter decides not to vote for any of the available candidates. When a voter wishes to do so, he or she is asked to fill out a separate form and a register is also maintained with name and details of the voter. Chances of the person being harassed is there,” Sanjeev Gorwadkar, petitioner’s advocate argued.
He further sought for the column of negative vote to be included in the EVMs for the upcoming municipal corporation and Zilla Parishad elections.
Advocate Sachin Shete, appearing for the state election commission, however, said that making changes in the EVMs for the upcoming elections are not possible as it was too late.
Full Article: ‘Consider column for negative vote on EVMs’.