Snap, Share, and Win! In a bid to spark youth engagement in the electoral process, the Vaishali district administration in Bihar has introduced an exciting initiative aimed at first-time voters. “Once the voter has exercised their democratic right, they simply need to snap a selfie at designated selfie points and share it.
“Fifty lucky participants will then be selected through a lottery system. The fortunate few will be treated to an enriching tour of Vaishali’s major tourist attractions. These include historical hotspots Buddha Stupa, Jain Stupa and a temple museum, all three located in Vaishali,” District Election Officer cum District Magistrate, Yashpal Meena told The Pioneer about the innovative experiment.
The idea is to ensure 100 per cent voting and increase the voting percentage in the Lok Sabha elections, he said.
Vaishali is revered as one of the world’s first republic so it is obvious that the young voters must be offered something special that help elevate voter turnout, quipped an equally excited Yashpal.The move to tap in India’s youngest eligible voters, aged 18 and 19 comes in the wake of Election Commission data showing them apparently hesitant to exercise their electoral rights.
As per the EC, less than 40 per cent of these 18 or 19-year-olds who are eligible to vote have registered for the 2024 elections across the country, with certain states such as Bihar, Delhi, and UP showing even lower enrollment rates.
In Vaishali district, there are 26.17 lakh voters of which 32,015 are young electors, 37,385 senior citizens, 16,112 persons with disabilities in the district. The elections in the district will be held in three phases-between 4th to 6th phase on May 13, May 20th and May 25th.
Yashpal urged the youth to lap up the opportunity to visit the sites of historical importance by being part of the world’s largest democratic process.
The district officials led by Yashpal have been already holding Voter Awareness Campaign throughout the Vaishali district, from various villages to towns including colleges. “Such campaigns enhance awareness in society and help people understand the importance of voting. Programs like these are fundamental pillars of democracy and contribute to educating and promoting democratic values. Through such programs, social harmony and empowerment sentiments are also fostered in society,” Yashpal said matter-of-factly.
The administration has also launched a special election logo on the occasion highlighting the importance of democracy.
To encourage overall voters to participate in the electoral process, the district officials are all set to launch a four-day mega awareness programme ‘Maha SVEEP’ programme from Sunday with officials and staff initiating door-to-door campaigns in 1585 revenue villages.
The use of technology, such as the Google form for uploading selfies at the designated selfie point, streamlines the process of selecting participants and adds a modern touch to the initiative, said an official from the district.
As per the national electoral rolls, there are approximately 18 million first-time voters in the country.
