Returning Officer sends letters to voters asking them to vote

For ensuring maximum participation during second phase Assembly elections on April 11, Kamrup Deputy Commissioner Vinod Seshan has written letters to nearly 12,500 families across 83 polling stations, which witnessed low turnout during last Lok Sabha elections.
"Our attempt is to ensure maximum participation in electing a government through a free and fair exercise. To do that, we have sorted out those constituencies, where there was low turnout in last Lok Sabha polls," Seshan told PTI.
A total of 83 polling stations across the four constituencies in Kamrup Election District had witnessed low turnout compared to other booths, he added.

"Apart from other voter awareness programme, I have sent a letter to each of these 12,400 odd-families and appealed them to come out and vote. They constitute around 59,000 voters," said Seshan, who is also the Returning Officer of Kamrup Election District.
The letters have been personally handed over to each families by Booth Level Officers, he added.
The appeal letter requested people not to be influenced by money, religion, caste and language politics while voting to elect a government.

Assuring people of a intimidation-free environment, it asked people to exercise their democratic right.
"If in this process, any candidate or party tried to threaten you or lure you, then I request you to contact our 24-hour active control room at 0361-2684404 or 0361-2684406," Seshan said in his letter.

Altogether 24 polling stations, where low voter turnout was witnessed, are spread in Boko constituency, while 22 are in Hajo.
The Kamrup Election District has launched a special
programme -- My Vote Campaign -- to increase voter participation across all places.
As part of this programme, the administration has rolled out various initiatives such as rallies, roadshows, awareness campaigns in colleges, a new website, Facebook page and selfies on the backdrop of huge election banners.
"We have launched a Click Point programme in villages, where we are showcasing people ethical voting practices through a smart phone. Our one computer operator is accompanying it to every village," Seshan said.

Besides, the Kamrup Disability Assistance Centre (K-DAC), an initiative under My Vote Campaign, is focussing on the need to exercise the democratic right by all members of the society irrespective of one's physical disability.
Seshan also informed that basic facilities like ramp and wheel chairs, volunteers, Braille brochures for visually impaired have been made available at the polling stations.
"We have identified around 2,500 voters with special needs. We launched a campaign requesting them to vote with an assurance that they will be specially taken care of by us on voting day," he added.
The entire exercise of making aware the people of Kamrup was launched on March 15 and will continue till April 11, the day of second and last phase of polling for Assam Assembly.

"Altogether around 120 people are involved in various initiatives. All the initiatives are likely to incur a total expenditure of Rs 12-15 lakh and we are raising this amount from partner agencies," Seshan said.