Direction on negative voting now could confuse voters: HC

Stating that any direction at this hour will create confusion in the minds of voters, the Bombay high court (HC), on Tuesday, refused to grant interim relief to a petitioner seeking inclusion of negative voting option in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

Stating that any direction at this hour will create confusion in the minds of voters, the Bombay high court (HC), on Tuesday, refused to grant interim relief to a petitioner seeking inclusion of negative voting option in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

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The court was hearing a petition filed by Thane resident Aparna Bedekar, which takes exception to an order regarding the use of EVMs passed by the state election commission (SEC) in January 2005. The procedure would inadvertently breach the secrecy of the voter, it states.

The court said that it would not pass any order at the eleventh hour as it could cause confusion in the minds of voters. “You should have come early. What about the entire election process? Will you take its responsibility?” the court asked the petitioner.

Another division bench had, last week, admitted the PIL seeking inclusion of negative voting option in the EVMs.

The Election Commission had earlier informed the court that it would not be possible to facilitate the inclusion of ‘negative vote’ or ‘none of the above’ option in EVMs during the upcoming civic polls.