Parliament Question: Law for Compulsory Voting

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4737 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 20TH MARCH, 2026 LAW FOR COMPULSORY VOTING †4737. SMT. MANJU SHARMA Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government proposes to enact any law to introduce compulsory voting in the country, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; (b) whether the Government has received any suggestions from any organisation or State Governments to make voting compulsory, if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the Government proposes to make the production of a voting certificate mandatory for availing benefits under Government schemes, with a view to increase the percentage of voter turnout in various elections, if so, the details thereof; and (d) the details of the number of democratic countries in the world where voting is compulsory? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL) (a) to (c): No proposal for enactment of any law to introduce compulsory voting in the country is under consideration of the Ministry. Moreover, the Law Commission of India, vide its 255th report of March, 2015, did not recommend the introduction of compulsory voting in India. (d): The Law Commission of India in its 255th report (March 2015) noted that compulsory voting is in 28 countries, although such a figure does not give a true picture of the level of enforcement, which is even lower, thus, most studies estimate that around 14 countries enforce compulsory voting provisions. These include many small countries such as Belgium, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Nauru, and one canton in Switzerland; and others such as Australia, Brazil, Ecuador, Singapore, Peru, and Uruguay, as stated by the Law Commission. It was further stated that none of the 28 countries indicate the trend towards which countries globally are moving. For instance, the fact that both Italy (1993) and the Netherlands (1967) have abolished compulsory voting; and others such as Liechtenstein and Greece have moved from a strict to a not-strict or nonenforcement of compulsory voting laws. *******