Some countries fine those who don’t vote

Stung by the low turnout in urban India, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani (81) on Thursday said voting should be made compulsory.

Stung by the low turnout in urban India, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani (81) on Thursday said voting should be made compulsory.

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Though Supreme Court said India records up to 60 per cent average polling and that was satisfactory, it is binding on the citizens of Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Costa Rica, Greece, Singapore, Switrzerland and Uruguay among others to cast the ballot.

A spokesperson of the Australian high commission said, “Australia made voting compulsory in 1924. Those who don’t vote have to pay a nominal fine.”

Uruguayan ambassador Cesar Ferrer told HT: “Uruguay has a system of compulsory voting since 1971.” In case of no show, Uruguayans have to justify “on a case by case basis” their absence or face a fine.

The Swiss have to pay a fine of three francs, Arg-entina fines erring voters 10 to 20 pesos, while in some countries non-voters can also face time in jail, according to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. In Belgium those who don’t vote find it difficult to find jobs in the public sector.