To encourage the voters of Chandigarh to exercise their franchise in the ensuing lok Sabha polls, the UT Election Department will now paste stickers on the boxes of sweets, urging people to vote.
For this, the UT Election Department has joined hands with Sindhi Sweets and Gopal’s Sweets, two popular sweet shops in Chandigarh. The sweet boxes in these shops would display slogans urging the city denizens to exercise their franchise in the general elections 2014. Slogans like ‘Every Vote Counts’, ‘Your Vote Your Voice’, ‘Cast Your Vote’, ‘Your Vote Your Right’among others would be pasted on the sweet boxes to sensitise the general public.
The electors’turnout in Chandigarh has remained below 67 per cent in the previous elections. The UT Election Department is now targeting to ensure 80 per cent voters turnout in the ensuing lok Sabha polls. Talking to The Pioneer, UT Joint Chief Electoral Officer Tilak Raj said, “In a move to sensitise the city denizens, the UT Election Department has tied up with Gopal’s Sweets and Sindhi Sweets in Chandigarh. The sweet boxes at both the shops would be pasted with slogans to urge people to exercise their franchise.”
“Both, Sindhi Sweets and Gopal’s Sweets have outlets at prominent areas of Chandigarh. And, people from elite class to middle class visit these outlets. Our aim is to encourage people from all sections of society to cast their vote on April 10, the polling day in Chandigarh,” he added. Sindhi Sweets and Gopal Sweets have outlets at prominent locations like Sector 17, 35, 15, Elante Mall etc. in Chandigarh.
This time, the UT Election Department is going extra mile to ensure that voters turn up in large numbers to vote on the polling day in the city. The Election Department has launched special campaign to encourage first time and youth voters to cast their vote. “About 35 campus ambassadors have been appointed in city Colleges to disseminate election related information and exhort youngsters to vote on the election day,” informed Tilak Raj.
From surprise gifts to cash vouchers, the UT Election Department has planned a number of rewards/incentives for the city voters who exercise their franchise in the ensuing lok Sabha polls. The UT Election Department has also planned to tie up with hotels and restaurants to provide special discounts to the people who cast their vote on April 10 in Chandigarh, added UT Joint Chief Electoral officer.
In Chandigarh, the highest electors turn out was 66.85 per cent recorded in the year 1971 here. The poll percentage in the year 2004 was 52.06 per cent. In 1998 and 1999, it was only 42.36 per cent and 46.99 per cent respectively. And, breaking the record of past 20 years, the voting percentage was recorded 65.51 percent in 2009 lok Sabha polls.
At present, the total number of voters in the city is pegged at 5,82,000 including 3.15 lakh males and 2.65 lakh females. The city has 18,170 electors aged between 18 and 19 years (first time voters), in which male electors constitute 63.8 percent and female electors constitute 36.2 per cent.