New Delhi, Apr 05: As the General Elections 2024 draw near, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is ramping up its initiatives to increase voter participation, particularly in Parliamentary Constituencies (PCs) with historically low turnout rates.
In the 2019 General Elections to the Lok Sabha, 11 States/Union Territories, including Jammu and Kashmir, reported voter turnout figures below the national average of 67.40%. Notably, constituencies like Anantnag, Srinagar, and Baramulla in J & K recorded around 50% voter turnout.
To address this concern, a day-long ‘Conference on Low Voter Turnout’ was convened at Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi. Municipal Commissioners from major cities and select District Election Officers (DEOs) from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh collaborated to devise strategies aimed at enhancing voter engagement in both urban and rural PCs.
Chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, the conference saw the release of a booklet on voter apathy by the Commission. The event highlighted the urgency of the situation, with 40 out of 50 identified Rural PCs with low voter turnout situated in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
CEC Rajiv Kumar underscored the need for a multifaceted approach, emphasizing facilitation at polling stations, targeted outreach and communication efforts, and engagement with stakeholders such as Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and local influencers. He urged the authorities to tailor strategies for urban and rural areas, stressing that a uniform approach may not be effective.
The conference emphasized collaboration between the ECI and stakeholders to combat voter apathy and streamline logistical operations. Focus areas included queue management, facilitating voting in high-rise buildings, and leveraging the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme.
With approximately 297 million eligible voters abstaining from voting in the 2019 General Elections, the scale of the challenge is evident. Recent elections have also highlighted urban apathy towards the electoral process, necessitating targeted interventions. Through innovative voter awareness campaigns and strategic partnerships, the ECI aims to enhance voter turnout and strengthen the democratic process across the nation.