The Election Commission has said, the voting for election to the Office of President of India, is not compulsory as also the voting for elections to the House of the People and State Legislatures. It said, every elector at the Presidential election has the freedom of making a choice to vote for any candidate or not to vote at the election, as per his or her free will and choice. This, the EC said, will equally apply to the political parties and they are free to canvas or seek votes of electors for any candidate or requesting or appealing to them to refrain from voting. The Commission said, voting by members of the electoral college, is outside the House concerned and not a part of the proceeding of the House.
Setting at rest doubts on the issue, the poll panel observed that the political parties cannot issue any direction or whip to their members to vote in a particular manner or not to vote at the election, leaving them with no choice, as that would tantamount to the offence of undue influence within the meaning of section 171C of the IPC. The Commission said, the electors are at liberty to vote or not to vote at the Presidential election as per their own free will and choice.