Panel discussion on ethical voting practices held

SEPPA, Apr 16: In a bid to promote ethical voting practices, a panel discussion on the theme "Yes to Vote, No to Note" was organized by the Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) team at the district election office here.

The event, designed to encourage responsible voting, was inaugurated by East Kameng deputy commissioner Sachin Rana.

Serving as the moderator, assistant professor of Hindi at GMC, Seppa, Tai Tugung, led the panel discussion.

The panel comprised a diverse array of professionals and experts, including Chief Judicial Magistrate, Seppa Habung Tangu, Apex Bank branch manager Pem Chutrup Nganmu, GMC assistant professors Kumar Sonam and Landi P Tama, Mixed Martial Arts champion Monda Sagno and GHSS Pampoli teacher Punyo Konya.

Each panelist shared insights and observations based on their expertise and experiences.

The discussion underscored illiteracy as a key factor leading to the exchange of votes for inducements.

Additionally, the panel highlighted several other reasons contributing to this practice, including lack of awareness among youth, a desire for instant gratification, susceptibility of first-time voters to negative influences, conscious involvement of certain individuals, economic disparities, and voting based on caste, clan, or personal relationships.

The panel also noted the impact of wealthy candidates and the culture of exchanging votes for money on the electoral process and society as a whole.

The panelists emphasized that the prevalence of a money-centric culture hinders the development of essential services such as education, healthcare, communication, and sports facilities.

Tangu suggested that amending existing laws to increase the severity of punishments for bribery could deter potential offenders. He proposed a revision where only the person buying the vote (i.e., the candidate) would be held accountable, potentially facilitating prosecution.

Sonam suggested that delimitation, which reduces the number of constituencies while increasing the number of voters in each, could help reduce the influence of money in elections. He also proposed the implementation of a plural voting system to bridge the gap between educated and uneducated voters.

These measures, the panelists argued, could play a crucial role in curbing the prevailing money culture in elections.