Question

Principle: Anyone who induces or attempts to induce a voter to vote in a particular manner on the ground that the voter will face divine displeasure, shall be guilty of offence of interfering with free exercise of right to vote.
Facts: During election campaign period one candidate X told the voters that if they do not vote for her, voters will be cursed because the election candidate is the God’s own child and those who do not vote for her, they will not be liked by God.

• A. X has committed an offence.
• B. X has not committed an offence because she only narrated what she felt.
• C. X has not committed an offence because she has freedom of speech and expression.
• D. X has not committed an offence because she did not compel anyone to vote for her.

Hint:

Be cautious in election campaigns, as invoking divine threats or promises to influence voters constitutes illegal interference.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The principle clearly states that any attempt to induce or influence voters through threats or promises based on divine consequences is an offence, as it interferes with the free exercise of the right to vote. In this case, X is inducing voters by stating that if they do not vote for her, they will face divine displeasure. This is an improper inducement, which is an offence under election laws.
Thus, the correct answer is (A).
Option (B) is incorrect because merely narrating one’s beliefs or thoughts is not allowed if it influences the voting process. Option (C) is incorrect as freedom of speech does not allow one to induce voters by invoking divine displeasure. Option (D) is incorrect because the fact that she did not directly compel voters still makes her action an offence under the law.