Indore's plan to record best voter turnout among cities is a beauty

Indore is aiming for the highest voter turnout in any city in the country by offering treats to voters

Always thought you deserved a prize for braving the scorching summer sun to cast your vote? If you live in Indore, come Sunday, you will be rewarded for your civic rectitude. Voters who are selected as the Best Dressed Male Voter, the Best Dressed Female Voter, the Most Enthusiastic (Pregnant Lady, Senior Citizen…) Voter, or the Best Couple Voter will get freebies and discounts.

It’s a zany way of trying to improve voter turnout from the 62 per cent of five years ago to 70 per cent on May 19. Voters need to download the Vote Indore Vote application to participate. The app has been carefully developed after uploading and verifying the data on all 26 lakh voters. 

Lest you forget to vote, the app will sent out reminders throughout the day to those who haven’t turned up at the ballot box. 

“We are working to ensure that Indore has one of the highest voter turnouts. We are using various tools to motivate and encourage voters, be it by offering awards or freebies,” said Neha Meena, Additional Collector and District SVEEP Nodal Officer.

As the authorities plan for a fun, carnival atmosphere, they have roped in local hotels and restaurants. Some 90 hotels and restaurants will offer discounts ranging from 10-30 per cent on the bill to the chosen ones. Single voters will get only 10 per cent off the bill while families or couples will get 30 per cent off. Sweet shops will slash bills by five per cent.  

“It was a tough bargain with the hotels and restaurants. We told them that it was a joint responsibility to make Indore number one in voting. Besides, they will not suffer any losses as it will be bulk sales that day. They already come out with offers on Diwali and Holi so why not on election day?” asked Meena, who is leading the initiative along with District Collector Lokesh Kumar Jatav. 

Cinemas are handing out buckets of complimentary popcorn to moviegoers who can show the ink mark.  They couldn’t offer discounts on the movie tickets, apparently, so they opted for free popcorn which, in any case, often costs as much as the ticket. 

Women, pensioners, and the disabled will get free bus rides. Entry fees to the Regional Park, Meghdoot Garden, and the Zoo will be reduced. 

Voting will be made comfortable through a system of tokens to avoid queues. Indoreans will be able to assess the waiting time and come back for their turn. This too is being offered through an app and is being promoted in 300 polling booths that have been identified as having had poor turnout in the 2014 and in the 2018 assembly elections.

Indore likes being top dog in rankings. It already enjoys the distinction of being the cleanest city in the country, for the third year in a row. If the voter turnout on Sunday is a record high, there will be reason for wild celebration. 

Any discount on the, er…Chardonnay?