Gujarat makes voting in local body polls mandatory

Notification does not specify punishment but fines might be imposed, sources said

Gujarat has become the first state to introduce compulsory voting for local body elections.

A voter in the state might face punitive action for not exercising his franchisee. An elected member of a local body or an office-bearer might be disqualified for not voting.

The state government had on July 17, 2015, issued a notification on the amended Gujarat Local Authorities Laws (Amendment) Act, 2009, approved by Governor O P Kohli in November last year.

The notification does not specify any punishment that could be meted out to those who do not vote. But state government sources said a fine or disqualification from civic incentives might be imposed. The government is also believed to be looking at ways to bring exceptions for not exercising one's franchise.

The notification comes at a time when the state is gearing up for elections to municipal bodies and panchayats in October 2015.

The Bill was introduced by the Bharatiya Janata Party government in 2009 under the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi. The notification also introduced 50 per cent reservation for women in municipal corporations, municipalities, and village panchayats.