Wednesday, April 26, 2006

"O Podu" ... Section 49 ‘O’ of the Election rules 1961

“O Podu” is a social awareness movement.


“O PODU’ means “cast the vote”. Voting is both the right and duty of the people. Another objective of our movement is to make people aware of their constitutional right to cast their vote under section 49 ‘O’.

It is a unique feature of our Indian constitution that it has provided the legal right to the voter to reject all the candidates. Section 49 ‘O’ of the Election rules 1961, has empowered the voter with this right. This section has conferred the right to the voter to inform the booth officer, after the indelible ink mark has been marked, that the voter does not want to vote for any of the candidates. The section requires the booth officer to record the voter’s choice of 49 ‘O’.


http://www.keetru.com/ohpodu/english.html

THE CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS RULES, 1961

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Any idea what happens in case there are more 'no votes' than winning candidate?
And what in case of only 'no votes' getting majority and all other candidates get equal number of votes?

Faiq

vimal said...

Man I wish I had known about 49 O before. Iam not sure if EVM has 49o.

Anonymous said...

Why should you go and say "I VOTE NOBODY". because, in a ward, if a candidate wins, say by 123 votes, and that particular ward has received "49-O" votes more than 123, then that polling will be canceled and will have to be re-polled. Not only that, but the candidature of the contestants will be removed and they cannot contest the re-polling, since people had already expressed their decision on them.

Anonymous said...

As per the 1969 act, in section " 49-O" that a person can go to the polling booth, confirm his identity, get his finger marked and convey the presiding election officer that he doesn't want to vote anyone!

Unknown said...

Strange ! How come Election Commission never made people aware of this section, I always looked for a provision like this.

Anonymous said...

Shouldn't there a option on ballot paper for people who "Don't wish to vote"?Isn't it Election Commissioners' duty and responsibility to educate / inform the voters, and provide such option on ballot paper?If there are more such votes than other votes for candidates,I understand that the canidates lose their deposits and right to stand for election again.Is it correct?I would like to know the facts and why Election Commission office is not informing voters and provide such option. Bakul

Rihan said...

I strongly believe that if vote is our weapon then " O PODE " is the method or the skill to use the weapon in time of need, in the present situation of the Indian political system i think " O PODE " is the Exact weapon that each and every voter have, that to chage our system and our country.

RRihan said...

I strongly believe that if vote is our weapon then " O PODE " is the method or the skill to use the weapon in time of need, in the present situation of the Indian political system i think " O PODE " is the Exact weapon that each and every voter have, that to chage our system and our country.

Unknown said...

There are hundreds and thousands of voters refuse to vote due to lack of suitbale candidates. It is a fact that good many number of candidates contesting elections do not posses even minimum qualification and even not recognised by the people. The people who refuse to vote wish to justify the reason just saying that no one is suitable. But execising the article 49'O'will certainly call for a debate or influence the politics in our country. I therefore, support for a massive campaign and voters education on article 49'O'

Dr. Priya Nath
Orissa

LASTMAN OF INDIA said...

I HAVE REFUSED TO CAST THE VOTE AS I DIDNOT FOUND ANY SUITABLE CANDIDATE FROM MY CONSTITUENCY KANNOUJ.
I HAVE DONE IT
NOW ITS YOUR TERM MAY BE AFTER 5 YEARS
I AM SURE NEXT TIME THIS SECTION OF THE VOTER WILL BECOME DECIDING FACTOR INSTEAD OF POLITICIANS WHO ALWAYS DO THE WRONG THING TO GET THERE WAY CLEAR
THIS IS WARNING TO THE POLITICIANS BE WARE OF YOUR DEEDS OTHERWISE SOME DAY WILL COME WHEN THOSE 50% WHO DONT GO TO CAST THERE VOTE TO MAKE YOU THE KING OR KING MAKER. WILL STAND UP UNITIDLY AGAINST YOU TO CHOOSE BETTER OPTION AMONG THEMSELVES
THANKS
Er.LASTMAN OF INDIA
lastmanofindia@live.in
9307927133