Absence of young, urban voters on polling day a big challenge: CEC Rajeev Kumar

President Election Commissioner Rajeev Kumar on Friday expressed concern over the apathy of young and urban voters during the elections and described it as a big challenge.

He wondered why polling day is not celebrated as a festival of democracy but as a holiday.

Kumar said during the ‘Vote Fest-2023’ organized by the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), “A major challenge before the commission is the general apathy among our voters, mainly young and urban. “

The CEC tried to figure out how to motivate the ‘non-voters’ and draw them to the polling booths.

It has become extremely important to understand the reasons, perceptions, beliefs, motivations, constraints, challenges, experiences, contexts and frameworks that shape their decision not to vote. Can we inspire these non-voters to realize their power, believe in that power and inspire them to make the call that their one vote can make a difference?” Kumar wondered.

He said, ‘Why can’t we celebrate the polling day with the same fervor, enthusiasm and colors as we celebrate our festivals? Today, the youth are in a permanent state of belief that their vote does not influence the decision making of the government,” he said.

As part of its exercise to encourage voters to exercise their franchise, the Commission launched a hackathon – ‘Electron 2023’ to encourage innovation and creative solutions to issues in the electoral process.

Two exhibitions on the history of elections in Karnataka and voter awareness were organized at the JN Tata Auditorium of the Indian Institute of Science.

Around 1,000 people attended the event where the oldest voters were felicitated and some young voters were symbolically presented with new voter ID cards. Persons with disabilities, tribal youth and transgender icons were also felicitated.

In addition, the CEC also participated in an interactive session in which various dignitaries including Vice Chancellors of Universities, Directors of IIITs/IIM(B), Presidents/CEOs of IT Companies, Districts and State Icons, Entrepreneurs, Students and Young Voters were present. . ,

Kumar flagged off eight mobile vans with LED hoardings carrying voter awareness messages by celebrities like veteran retired cricketer Rahul Dravid, exhorting people to vote.

The eight vehicles will cover all the 28 assembly constituencies of Bengaluru as a part of the systematic electorate. Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP).

A team of Election Commission officials led by CEC Rajeev Kumar reached the city on Thursday on a three-day visit to assess the preparations for the assembly elections in the state.

read all latest politics news Here

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)