Haryana’s Big Voting Day: Special Efforts to Boost Turnout on October 5
Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal has announced that the Election Commission of India, along with the Chief Electoral Officer’s office, is implementing special measures to increase voter turnout for the 15th Haryana Legislative Assembly General Election on October 5.
Encouraging Voter Participation
Various SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation) activities, including slogan writing, painting, street plays, and poster making, are being used to encourage voters to cast their votes. Agarwal emphasized that the voters of Haryana are politically aware, with a higher voting percentage in both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections compared to other states.
In the last Assembly elections, the voter turnout was 68.31 percent. This time, the goal is to increase participation by 5 percent. Agarwal stated, “It is the duty and right of every citizen, along with the Commission, to take part in the ‘Festival of Democracy – Pride of the State’ during the Haryana Assembly Elections 2024 by casting their valuable vote, as every vote contributes to a higher turnout.”
Review and Preparations
A team of senior officials from the Election Commission of India recently visited Haryana to review preparations for the Assembly elections. They urged local officials to focus on increasing the voting percentage. The voters of Haryana are already politically engaged, actively discussing elections in ‘Chaupals’ and at ‘Khat-Mudhas’.
Yesterday, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officers, Superintendents of Police, and other officers involved in the election process assured the Election Commission officials that efforts would be made to increase the voting percentage by 5 percent compared to the last Assembly elections. Agarwal added, “Every vote cast by the citizens is not just a mark on a finger but a new ray of hope for a strong democracy.”
Awareness Campaigns
SVEEP initiatives are turning into campaigns to increase voter turnout, with significant participation from educational institutions and various departments. Activities like mehndi and painting competitions organized by students, and rallies in villages are encouraging voters to participate in the elections. These efforts are playing an important role in raising voter awareness.
The administration is also actively promoting voter awareness on social media platforms. The significance of each vote is communicated through various SVEEP campaigns, urging citizens to participate enthusiastically in the great festival of democracy on October 5.
Election Day
Voting for the 90-member legislative assembly in Haryana will be held on October 5, with votes counted on October 8 along with those in Jammu and Kashmir.
Doubts Revealed
Haryana -: Haryana is a state in northern India. It is known for its rich culture and history.
Chief Electoral Officer -: The Chief Electoral Officer is a person in charge of making sure elections are fair and well-organized in a state.
Pankaj Agarwal -: Pankaj Agarwal is the name of the person who is the Chief Electoral Officer of Haryana.
voter turnout -: Voter turnout means the number of people who come out to vote in an election.
Haryana Legislative Assembly -: The Haryana Legislative Assembly is a group of people elected to make laws and decisions for the state of Haryana.
slogan writing -: Slogan writing is creating short and catchy phrases to encourage people to do something, like voting.
street plays -: Street plays are short performances done in public places to spread messages or entertain people.
Election Commission -: The Election Commission is a group that organizes and oversees elections to make sure they are fair.
social media campaigns -: Social media campaigns use platforms like Facebook and Twitter to share messages and encourage people to vote.
community engagement -: Community engagement means involving local people in activities to make them more interested in voting.