A seminar on Lokpal and Lokayukta and voterology was held on behalf of the Madurai Branch of the Chennai High Court, presided over by its President Isaac Mohan Lal. In this, Tamil Nadu Lokayukta Member Dr. V. Ramaraj delivered the keynote address.
Dr Ramaraj said that when the distinct field of political science came into being about 125 years ago, there were monarchies in many countries and democracies in many countries. Since most countries are currently following democracy, the study and research of vote, voters and elections, collectively called as voterology, has to be made as a distinct field. Dr. V. Ramaraj said that voterologism is the propagation of principles of voterology with the slogan “voters above all else”.
Like a cube with equal height, length and width, in democratic institutions, votes, voters and elections are three evolutions of equal size. Ignorance of voters, corruption and dictatorship are challenges to all these three dimensions. Ignorance of voters will lead to corruption in votes, voters and elections. It is an theory of voterology that democratic institutions will turn into dictatorial institutions when corruption reaches its peak, said Dr. V. Ramaraj.
The democratic electoral system alone cannot provide a people’s welfare government. Modern democracy can be divided into two types such as a government run by those who seize power at any cost under a democratic electoral system and a government run by those who seize power with an ideological agenda to act as a government for the people. Dr. V. Ramaraj said that striving to create the second type of democratic government is voterology.
Most countries have constitutional laws that do not interfere with the power of one institution, such as the parliament, which makes laws, the government, which runs the government according to the law, and the judiciary, which administers justice according to the law. Voterology emphasis that electoral institutions should be created as a fourth institution with a constitutional status equal to these three institutions. In terms of electoral institutions, firstly, there should be an election commission to conduct free and fair elections, secondly, a commission for the protection of voters’ rights at the national and state levels to educate voters, protect voters’ rights, and strengthen voter empowerment, and thirdly, special election tribunals that resolve all issues, including appeals, in election-related cases within six months, Dr. V. Ramaraj added.
The United Nations should create international laws on electoral administration, similar to those enacted for the eradication of corruption, human rights, and environmental protection. Psephology is a branch of political science that deals with the scientific analysis of elections or polls. Dr. V. Ramaraj said that Voterolgy and voterologism is a study and ideology to protect the votes, voters and elections from ignorance, corruption and dictatorship and to protect democratic institutions as public welfare institutions.
Universities should introduce a Master of Arts (M.A.,) in Voterology programme with thematic areas includes Doctrines of Voterology, the Voterological perspective on democracy, governance and peace, the Voterological approach to sociology and psychology, electoral policy, law and justice, global electoral systems, comparative electoral systems, voter empowerment, political parties and strategies, role of journalism and media in Voterology. Voterology should be taught in schools and colleges. Voter awareness is the only tool for holding fair and honest elections, which are essential for good governance and world peace, said Dr. V. Ramaraj.
The Lokpal has been set up to investigate allegations of corruption against the Prime Minister, Union Ministers and all officers and employees of the Central Government. Similarly, the Tamil Nadu Lokayukta has been set up to investigate allegations of corruption against the Ministers, IAS and IPS officers and other officers, employees of the State Government. V. Ramaraj stressed that bar associations and voluntary organizations should work to increase awareness among the people about the Lokpal and the Lokayukta.
Note: The term “Voterology” (வாக்காளரியல் in Tamil) was coined by Dr.V.Ramaraj and it made its debut in his book named “Respectable Voter” in 1996 and an article of Dinamani, a Tamil daily on August 20, 1999. Voterologism is a newly coined word by Dr. V.Ramaraj, derived from “voterology”. Voterologism is used to refer to the doctrines of voterology (school of thought advanced by Dr. V. Ramaraj), that prioritizes the actions, will, or opinions of the voters above all else. Dr. V. Ramaraj is recognized as the “Father of Voterology” for his contributions to understanding voter dynamics and promoting voter awareness.
