Hi! Voting or electing one's own representative is our greatest right and responsibility as a citizen of any democratic country. Durning elections, we are told to ask our conscience and vote for the right candidate. But is there any specific criterion or definition of who this 'right candidate' actually is? The Election Commission or the state never directly points a finger at anyone to vote for such and such a person. Rather, it is left to the personal judgment and choice of the voters.
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In Bangladesh there are two plitical parties mainly. They are Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party, BNP. After every five years people select one oh these two parties. After acquiring independence from now this two political parties has been selected by the voters. When a candidate's past record or performance is very bad, then the common people may feel that everyone should understand that this person is not worthy. If the guidance had come from someone in such a situation, perhaps the risk of electing the wrong candidate would have been reduced.
But is the matter really that simple? If the state or any other party tells us who to vote for, won't the very foundation of democracy be shaken? The main beauty of democracy is people's own independent thinking. If we vote on the words of others, it is no longer our own choice. And when someone persuades someone to choose the "right candidate" during elections, there is often propaganda or personal interest hidden in it.
We must remember that the words right or wrong are relative. The candidate who seems right to me may seem wrong to the person next door. This is the beauty of democracy the coexistence of different opinions. If someone tries to impose a certain decision on us, it paralyzes our thinking power.
If such a strategy of influencing or spreading influence in democracy begins, elections will become a formality. Voters will lose interest in using their own judgment. And when a candidate or party becomes convinced that the common people are influenced by the words of others, they focus more on creating an image than on serving the people. As a result, the political structure of the country is damaged in the long run.
So at the end of the day, voting is not just a matter of choice, it is a responsibility. Although at times it may seem that people are making mistakes or voting for the wrong person, the freedom to make those mistakes is also part of democracy. We should use our own judgment, looking at the past performance and manifesto of the candidate and make decisions only after looking at it. We can take advice from others, but the final decision should be based on our own conscience.
There is no alternative for an informed voter to sustain democracy. If we are lazy and make decisions based on the information provided by others, then the real purpose of democracy will be disrupted. Therefore, it is wisest to keep the decision of who to vote for in our own hands.
