EC strives for greater youth participation in polls

With some of the first-time voters not completely sure about casting their vote and selection of candidate, the Election Commission has taken steps to increase young voters' participation through awareness programmes.

While some voters have expressed that they do not want to vote for the "corrupt" candidates, others feel it is their responsibility to exercise their franchisee.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is, therefore, conducting programmes like Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) to encourage the young voters to exercise their democratic right.

SVEEP, which was started in 2009, handles work related to all aspects of voters' awareness and education aimed towards improving electoral participation.

The Commission has also taken steps to inculcate the cultural habit of voting and aid voters in overcoming psychological barrier, according to the ECI website. In addition, it is reaching out to youth in colleges and universities and working to increase women participation by promoting election watch and democracy platforms by organising seminars, workshops and lectures on values of participatory democracy.

Meanwhile, political parties are also taking steps to woo new voters.

BJP's youth wing Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) general secretary Hitesh Patel said, "We are organising programmes in rural areas to connect to new voters and spreading awareness about state government's various schemes."

Gujarat Youth Congress unit president Mansingh Dodiya said the membership campaign started by the party in various universities of the state had received tremendous response.

The EC is also promoting a new programme called YUVA–Youth United for Voter Awareness- to enlist larger youth participation through education.