The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) will ensure adequate facilities at all polling booths like drinking water and restrooms. Following an opinion poll conducted by the CEO, it has been observed that large numbers of youth and women in Delhi show reluctance to cast their ballot since they find arrangements at polling stations inadequate.
Director General of Election Commission of India (ECI) Akshay Rout on Monday ordered all polling stations be equipped with basic amenities, including potable water and wash rooms.
“The ECI has been making several endeavours to beseech the electorate. To persuade first-time voters, they would be contacted individually by partner agencies during the door-to-door campaign. Officials will be writing to each elector to exercise his/her franchise,” he said, while addressing the media at a workshop organised by the ECI and CEO Delhi.
The ECI official further said that the Commission would also be enlisting the help of school students. “In schools, students would be given a Sankalp Patra (letter of pledge) to be signed by parents and guardians pledging to vote. Records will be maintained for effective campaigning and it would be ensured that letters submitted by each student are duly signed,” he added.