New Delhi: 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.
Ahead of the polling in the ongoing general elections in 2024, the poll body has accelerated efforts to enhance voter turnout in parliamentary constituencies (PCs) with a history of low poll participation in previous general elections.
According to an official release from the ECI, "In a day-long 'Conference on Low Voter Turnout' held today at Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi, Municipal Commissioners from major cities and select District Election Officers (DEOs) from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh deliberated together to chart a path towards enhancing voter engagement and participation in identified urban and rural PCs."
The conference was chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.
A booklet on "Voter's Apathy" was also unveiled by the Chief Election Commissioner on the occasion.
As per the release," 11 states and union territories, namely Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, the NCT of 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 general elections to the Lok Sabha."
"Out of the total 50 rural PCs across 11 states identified with lower voter turnout than the national average in 2019, 40 PCs are from Uttar Pradesh (22 PCs) and Bihar (18 PCs). In UP, 51-Phulpur PC recorded the lowest turnout of 48.7 per cent, while in Bihar, 29-Nalanda PC recorded the lowest turnout of 48.79 per cent," it said.
While addressing the Municipal Commissioners and DEOs, CEC Rajiv Kumar said that a total of 266 parliamentary constituencies ( 215 rural and 51 urban) with low voter turnout have been identified and all concerned Municipal Commissioners, DEOs and state CEOs have been called today to find ways to reach out to voters in a targeted manner. (with ANI inputs)
