GUWAHATI: In preparation for the upcoming General Elections 2024, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has intensified efforts to enhance voter turnout in parliamentary constituencies (PCs) with historically low participation rates. A day-long conference on low voter turnout was convened in New Delhi, bringing together municipal commissioners from major cities.
Chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar along with Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, the conference aimed to devise strategies for increasing voter engagement and participation in both urban and rural PCs. During the event, the Commission released a booklet on voter apathy to further address the issue.
Click here to join our WhatsApp channel
According to data presented at the conference, 11 states/UTs, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Telangana, Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, and Jharkhand, recorded a lower voter turnout than the national average of 67.40% in the 2019 General Elections.
The focus was on addressing specific challenges faced by 266 parliamentary constituencies, comprising 215 rural and 51 urban areas, with low voter turnout. CEC Kumar emphasized a three-pronged strategy, including facilitation at polling stations, targeted outreach and communication, and engagement of critical stakeholders such as Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and youth influencers.
ALSO READ: Guwahati: Crackdown On Gang Involved In Kidnapping And Robbery, 5 Arrested
CEC Kumar stressed the need for tailored strategies for urban and rural areas, highlighting that a one-size-fits-all approach would not suffice. Municipal commissioners and DEOs were urged to develop region-specific outreach programmes to resonate with the unique needs and demographics of their constituencies.
The conference also discussed innovative voter awareness campaigns under the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme, including incorporating election messages into utility bills, collaborating with RWAs, hosting informative sessions at public spaces, and leveraging social media platforms for extensive outreach. Chief Election Officers of several states also participated, both in-person and virtually.