ECI holds conference on steps to increase voter turnout in Lok Sabha polls
The Election Commission of India (ECI) held a conference on low voter turnout on Friday aimed at addressing the issue of low poll participation ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Municipal commissioners and district election officers (DEOs) from select districts across the country, particularly those with a history of low voter turnout, were in attendance to strategise on increasing voter engagement and participation.
The conference was held in the national Capital and chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, along with election commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.
The conference emphasised the need for targeted interventions to encourage voters in “identified urban and rural” parliamentary constituencies (PCs) to exercise their franchise.
CEC Kumar spoke about the importance of creating a movement in which people are self-motivated to participate in the poll process.
He stressed a “three-pronged strategy of providing facilitation at polling stations”, “targeted outreach & communication, and the involvement of critical stakeholders such as Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs)” and influencers. A booklet on voter apathy was also released at the occasion which says, “Urban apathy in poll participation is a major concern”.