Latest news with #SVEEP
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Admin launches drive to boost voter turnout
Patna: Patna DM Thiyagarajan SM on Tuesday asked officers under the SVEEP (Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation) programme to conduct door-to-door visits in a phased manner. The officers are to inform every voter about their designated booths and encourage them to participate on polling day. To ensure maximum turnout in urban areas, the DM directed electoral registration officers (EROs) to hold camps in apartments and localities across the city. These camps aim to update voters about their booths and entries in the electoral roll, as well as motivate them to vote. He urged residents to participate actively in elections. "Patna, a district with a rich historical legacy and one of the highest literacy rates, is the capital of a state known as the birthplace of democracy. Therefore, all stakeholders must work to improve Patna's voter turnout. Everyone whose name appears on the electoral roll must vote," he said. The DM emphasised the importance of participation by first-time voters, women, and persons with disabilities (PWD). "The administration is committed to accessible elections for all, especially for PWDs and senior citizens," he said. A team of approximately 500 officers and personnel will be deployed to raise voter awareness in the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) area. All six executive officers have been tasked with leading awareness campaigns to tackle urban voter apathy. Public outreach will be enhanced using 69 Public Address Systems installed by Patna Smart City Limited at key intersections. Activities such as banners, slogans, selfie points, rangoli, and other creative methods will be deployed across malls, markets, haats and other public places to engage citizens. He also highlighted the ongoing 'Mission 60' campaign, led by the Election Commission of India, which targets the 60 polling stations with the lowest turnout in each assembly constituency. The aim is to boost turnout from these locations to 66%. "Preparations are in full swing across the district as per the Commission's guidelines," he said. "We are committed to making this festival of democracy a meaningful and pleasant experience. Every voter must cast their vote to further strengthen our democracy," the DM added.
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
ECI ramps up efforts to boost voter turnout
Chhapra: With the assembly elections approaching, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has intensified its monitoring and preparations, placing particular emphasis on increasing voter turnout. ECI secretaries Santosh Kumar and Rajiv Kumar said at Sonepur on Saturday that greater attention must be given to young and women voters. They expressed confidence that the ongoing activities under the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme would yield positive results. They stressed the importance of identifying polling booths with low voter turnout and mobilising grassroots support. "BLOs, voluntary organisations, Jeevika Didi, ASHA, Sevika and Sahayika must come forward to increase the polling percentage," they said. The officials also stressed the need to intensify SVEEP activities to motivate the electorate and informed that a review of the electoral rolls is currently underway. They urged all eligible but unregistered citizens to ensure their names are included in the voter list. The ECI secretaries also interacted with BLOs who recently returned from training in Delhi, encouraging them to apply their learning effectively on the ground. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
03-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Cycle rally awareness campaign held in Saran
Chhapra: On the occasion of World Cycle Day on Tuesday, a cycle rally awareness campaign was organised in different blocks of the Saran district with the theme "Vote for earth, vote for democracy'. In the rally, students, cadets of Bharat Scouts and Guides and youths participated. The rally was joined by the district icon of SVEEP programme, Amit Kumar Singh. Nodal officer of SVEEP cell, Kumari Anupama, said the purpose of the event was to preserve the environment and increase participation of people in the electoral process.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Three-day voter awareness rally flagged off in Buxar
Buxar: A three-day voter awareness rally was flagged off by DM, Vidyanand Singh, from the collectorate premises here on Tuesday. The rally would be held under the SVEEP (Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation) programme, coinciding with World Bicycle Day and World Environment Day. The aim of the rally is to raise awareness about the importance of voting and inspire citizens to participate in the democratic process without fear, said a district administration official. On this occasion, DM also administered a pledge to the attendees, emphasising the need for free, fair, and peaceful elections. "Every vote counts, and every voter's participation strengthens our democracy," the DM said in his address. The rally, led by local youth icon Abhiram Sundar, saw enthusiastic participation from young citizens and volunteers riding bicycles. As they traversed various parts of the city, they engaged with the public, spreading awareness through slogans such as "First vote, then refreshment" and "Voter awareness is the identity of a strong democracy". Participants carried placards highlighting the significance of voting, while also promoting eco-friendly practices through the use of bicycles. The initiative skillfully blended the messages of democratic responsibility and environmental conservation. The event was also attended by Buxar DDC Akash Choudhary, DPRO Saurav Alok, senior officials, NCC cadets and school students. All took a pledge to contribute to the success of the voter awareness campaign.
The Hindu
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Survey in progress to identify reasons for voter apathy among youth
As Kerala moves towards an election season which will culminate with the Assembly elections next year, election officials here are on a mission to identify the reasons for voter apathy among young people and possible solutions. A youth voter participation survey is under way to find out the reasons for the perceived reluctance in the 18-30 age group to participate in the election process, Chief Electoral Officer (Kerala) Rathan U. Kelkar said. It is expected that the results and suggestions emerging from the survey will help to improve both enrolment and participation in the elections by young people, according to him. 'We started the survey six weeks ago. From our side, we are trying to understand the minds of the youth in the 18-30 age bracket and why they are not coming to vote. The survey will remain open for around two more months. Our aim is to get at least 50,000 responses. So far we have received 6,500 to 7,000 responses,' Mr. Kelkar, who took charge as CEO, Kerala, in December 2024, told The Hindu. Initial responses to a questionnaire that was circulated suggest a lack of interest and awareness about the election process, Mr. Kelkar said. At the same time, young respondents have urged election officials to organise more interactive sessions and discussions and use college campuses and social media to reach out to them, he said. Steps are also being taken to open electoral literacy clubs on campuses that do not have them and strengthen existing clubs, Mr. Kelkar said. 'We are trying to promote enrolment of youngsters in the 18-19 age group through the clubs. We have already conducted a meeting with educational institutions in the districts. We will also be talking to student organisations, residents' associations and the managements of self-financing colleges,' he said. The campaign among the youth is part of a larger exercise meant to improve voter enrolment, especially among sections that may face difficulty in electoral participation. Here, the focus is on the five sections, namely, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG), Scheduled Caste communities, persons with disabilities (PwD), senior citizens above 85 years, and transgender voters, according to Mr. Kelkar. 'Our intention from the beginning has been that we should have 100% enrollment of certain categories, which is possible,' he said. As part of the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme, Mr. Kelkar's office is liaising with government departments, including the departments for SC Welfare, Social Justice and Revenue, to reach out to these sections. The important thing is making sure that no one is left out of the electoral process, he said.
