IN A first-of-its-kind initiative, the Election Commission of India (ECI) held a ‘Conference on Low Voter Turnout’ with Municipal Commissioners and District Education Officers (DEO) from select districts to increase voter turnout in the ensuing Lok Sabha Elections. In the meeting, the Election Commission said, it has identified 266 parliamentary constituencies, including 215 in rural areas, with low voter turnout and is planning t argeted intervention to enhance voting percentage in Lok Sabha polls. Municipal Commissioners from major cities and select district election officers (DEOs) from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh discussed enhancing voter engagement and participation in identified urban and rural Lok Sabha seats.

 

Eleven States and Union Territories, including States like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Telangana, Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand, had a voter turnout lower than the national average of 67.40 per cent in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Addressing the participants, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar stressed that ‘one size fits all’ approach will not work and different strategies have to be worked out for different areas and segments. A booklet on “Voter’s Apathy” was also unveiled by the Chief Election Commissioner on the occasion.