With half of the electorate in the city below 40, the Chandigarh administration is leaving no stone unturned to increase the voting percentage to 80-90 per cent in the lone parliamentary constituency of Chandigarh by spreading awareness. Besides motivating youngsters through different campaigns, the administration is contemplating several new initiatives to motivate first-timers, including young voters, to exercise their franchise in the coming Lok Sabha elections which ranges from a certificate of participation as souvenir to discount coupons for food, saloon, etc.
Department believes that by such an initiative, many youngsters will franchise their right to vote and play a prominent role in deciding the outcome, polling for which to be held on Thursday. It is further intimated that the literacy rate of the Chandigarh parliamentary constituency is about 76 per cent.
According to the data, of the total 605,000 registered voters, more than half of the electorate in the city is below the age of 40. During the previous general elections, the turnout was 64 per cent.
Besides educating the voters through different campaigns such as Nukkad Nataks, ad campaigns, etc, the Chandigarh administration is also contemplating several new initiatives to motivate first-timers to exercise their franchise. In addition to this, announcements for exercising their Right to Votes is also been organised through loudspeaker on auto rickshaws along with the help of print media, SMS Jingle on Radios etc.
"The Chandigarh administration effort will bear fruit and we are expecting that youngsters in large number will participate in voting," said a senior official in Election Department.
In order to assist the citizens, voters' slips have already been supplied to all the residents/voters. For wide publicity, different kinds of advertisements, such as radio broadcasting, slide show at cinemas, banners in banks, post offices, Sampark centres, have already been made.
"In an attempt to woo voters to exercise their right to franchise, the UT Election Department has decided that in each polling booth, it will give surprise gifts and vouchers to the first 10 voters," said another official.
Besides, the department has tied up with hotels and restaurants in the city which will offer discounts to people who exercise their franchise. To avail of the discount, voters will have to show the indelible mark on their finger to the restaurant owners.
It is pertinent to mention here that the lone parliamentary constituency of Chandigarh would witness a triangular contest between the Congress, the BJP and the AAP. The Congress has fielded formal union minister for Railway and sitting MP from Chandigarh constituency, Pawan Kumar Bansal. Kirron Kher is contesting on the BJP ticket while the Aam Admi Party(AAP) has fielded actress Gul Panag. Bansal is eyeing a fourth consecutive term in the Lok Sabha and a fifth overall.
Department believes that by such an initiative, many youngsters will franchise their right to vote and play a prominent role in deciding the outcome, polling for which to be held on Thursday. It is further intimated that the literacy rate of the Chandigarh parliamentary constituency is about 76 per cent.
According to the data, of the total 605,000 registered voters, more than half of the electorate in the city is below the age of 40. During the previous general elections, the turnout was 64 per cent.
Besides educating the voters through different campaigns such as Nukkad Nataks, ad campaigns, etc, the Chandigarh administration is also contemplating several new initiatives to motivate first-timers to exercise their franchise. In addition to this, announcements for exercising their Right to Votes is also been organised through loudspeaker on auto rickshaws along with the help of print media, SMS Jingle on Radios etc.
"The Chandigarh administration effort will bear fruit and we are expecting that youngsters in large number will participate in voting," said a senior official in Election Department.
In order to assist the citizens, voters' slips have already been supplied to all the residents/voters. For wide publicity, different kinds of advertisements, such as radio broadcasting, slide show at cinemas, banners in banks, post offices, Sampark centres, have already been made.
"In an attempt to woo voters to exercise their right to franchise, the UT Election Department has decided that in each polling booth, it will give surprise gifts and vouchers to the first 10 voters," said another official.
Besides, the department has tied up with hotels and restaurants in the city which will offer discounts to people who exercise their franchise. To avail of the discount, voters will have to show the indelible mark on their finger to the restaurant owners.
It is pertinent to mention here that the lone parliamentary constituency of Chandigarh would witness a triangular contest between the Congress, the BJP and the AAP. The Congress has fielded formal union minister for Railway and sitting MP from Chandigarh constituency, Pawan Kumar Bansal. Kirron Kher is contesting on the BJP ticket while the Aam Admi Party(AAP) has fielded actress Gul Panag. Bansal is eyeing a fourth consecutive term in the Lok Sabha and a fifth overall.
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