NGO urges public not to sell votes

Trichy: Arappor Iyakkam, a volunteer movement, launched an intensive voter awareness campaign in Trichy on Tuesday urging voters not to sell their votes in upcoming assembly elections and appealed to the public to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.Volunteers issued stickers to residents across the city to paste on their houses with the message that votes are not for sale. They explained through pamphlets that the money offered for votes is actually public funds stolen by politicians. Pamphlets questioned whether accepting such money would make voters partners in corruption. They highlighted the loss of self-respect that comes with selling votes and encouraged citizens to vote honestly and live with dignity.Volunteers also issued questionnaires prompting voters to reflect on their moral choices. The questions include — whether a person who accepts money for a vote is better than one who refuses it, whether parents who take bribe money can serve as role models for their children, and whether accepting stolen money causes any sense of guilt.