‘Vote is supreme power’: TN Lokayukta member explains principles of 'voterology' at Namakkal Law College

NAMAKKAL: A seminar on the topic of ‘Necessity and Principles of Voterology’ was held at Namakkal Government Law College on Monday. The event was presided over by Principal Arun.

V. Ramaraj, member of the Tamil Nadu Lokayukta, participated as a special guest and explained the ten principles of voterology. He said the first and second principles of voterology are "Vote" is the supreme power and a force that determines the nature of democratic govt and world trends, and that the concept of "vote" is the first foundation of electoral democracy. He said voters should reject those who try to seize power at any cost to establish true democratic institutions.

He further said the third and fourth principles of voterology are voters above all else and prioritising the will and integrity of the electorate is foundation of the democracy. "Voters have shared responsibility to root out voter ignorance and corruption from the electoral process for the protection of democracy," he said.

Ramaraj said the fifth and sixth principles of voterology are Electoral Management Bodies ought to be made as a fourth branch of the govt authority with a constitutional status equal to Legislature, Executive, and judiciary.

He said Election Commission to conduct elections, Regulatory Authority to regulate political parties, Voters Empowerment Commission to protect voters’ rights and Special Election Tribunals under the supreme court of the country to conclude election cases within a period of six months should be created as divisions of election management bodies. "All the powers related to elections should be created as divisions of election management bodies, not in one place," he added.