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| National Voters’ Day |
National Voters’ Day:
Celebrating the Power of Democracy
Every year, on January 25, India
celebrates National Voters’ Day to mark the foundation day of the Election
Commission of India (ECI), the constitutional body that conducts elections in
the world’s largest democracy. The ECI was established on this day in 1950, a
day before India became a republic.
The main
objective of National Voters’ Day is to encourage, facilitate, and maximize the
enrolment and participation of voters, especially the new and young voters, who
are the future of the nation. The day also aims to spread awareness and
education among the voters about their rights and responsibilities, and to
motivate them to make informed and ethical choices.
The theme for
National Voters’ Day 2024 is “Making Our Voters Empowered, Vigilant, Safe
and Informed”. This theme reflects the ECI’s commitment to ensure that
every voter is able to exercise their franchise in a free, fair, safe, and
accessible manner, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and
other factors.
National
Voters’ Day is a celebration of the power and pride of democracy, and a
reminder of the duty and dignity of voting. As the former President of India,
Shri Ram Nath Kovind, said in his message on the occasion of National Voters’
Day 2021, “The right to vote is not only a constitutional right, but also a
sacred duty. By voting, we not only express our will, but also contribute to
the nation-building process.”
History
National Voters’ Day: A Brief History:
National
Voters’ Day was first celebrated in 2011, on the occasion of the 61st
anniversary of the ECI. The idea of celebrating this day was proposed by the
then President of India, Smt. Pratibha Patil, in her address to the Parliament
in 2010. She suggested that a day should be dedicated to the voters of the
country, to honor their contribution to the democracy and to encourage their
participation in the electoral process.
The ECI was
established on January 25, 1950, a day before India adopted its Constitution
and became a republic. The ECI is an independent and autonomous body that is
responsible for conducting elections to the Parliament, the State Legislatures,
the Office of the President and the Vice-President, and the local bodies. The
ECI also registers and recognizes political parties, monitors their expenditure
and conduct, and enforces the Model Code of Conduct during elections.
The ECI has
been instrumental in ensuring free and fair elections in the country, despite
the challenges of diversity, geography, population, and socio-political
factors. The ECI has introduced several reforms and innovations over the years,
such as the use of electronic voting machines, voter verifiable paper audit
trail, photo electoral rolls, voter ID cards, electoral literacy clubs,
national voter service portal, cVIGIL app, and PwD app, to enhance the
efficiency, transparency, accessibility, and security of the electoral process.
The ECI has
also been recognized and appreciated internationally for its achievements and
best practices in election management. The ECI is a founding member of the
Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB), a global network of election
management bodies. The ECI also hosts the International Election Visitors
Programme (IEVP) and the International Conference on Voter Education for
Inclusive, Informed, and Ethical Participation (ICE-VIEP), to share its
experiences and learnings with other countries and organizations.
National Voters’ Day is a tribute to the ECI and its role in strengthening the democracy and empowering the voters in India.
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| National Voters’ Day |
Significance
National Voters’ Day: Why It Matters:
National
Voters’ Day is not just a ceremonial occasion, but a meaningful and impactful
one. It is important for the country and its citizens, especially the young and
new voters, who constitute a large and influential segment of the electorate.
According to the ECI, there are about 91 crore registered voters in India, out
of which about 15 crore are in the age group of 18-19 years.
National
Voters’ Day aims to increase the enrolment and participation of voters, by
reaching out to them through various platforms and channels, such as schools,
colleges, universities, NGOs, media, and social media. The ECI also distributes
voter ID cards to the new voters on this day, as a symbol of their empowerment
and identity. The ECI also organizes special camps and drives to update and
verify the electoral rolls, and to facilitate the registration of eligible
voters who have not enrolled yet.
National
Voters’ Day also aims to educate the voters about their rights and
responsibilities, by providing them with relevant and reliable information and
resources, such as voter guides, helplines, websites, apps, and FAQs. The ECI
also conducts voter awareness and education programmes, such as Systematic
Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP), Electoral Literacy Clubs
(ELCs), and Voter Awareness Forums (VAFs), to impart knowledge and skills to
the voters, especially the young and first-time voters, on various aspects of
the electoral process, such as how to vote, where to vote, when to vote, and
whom to vote for.
National
Voters’ Day also aims to motivate the voters to make informed and ethical
choices, by appealing to their conscience and values, and by discouraging them
from falling prey to any inducements, influences, or pressures. The ECI also
promotes the concept of “informed and ethical voting”, which means that the
voters should vote on the basis of their own judgement and assessment of the
candidates and parties, and not on the basis of any irrelevant factors, such as
caste, religion, money, or violence. The ECI also enforces the Model Code of
Conduct, which is a set of guidelines for the conduct and behavior of the
candidates and parties during the election campaign, to ensure a level playing
field and a fair competition.
National
Voters’ Day also aims to celebrate the spirit and values of democracy, by
acknowledging and appreciating the role and contribution of the voters in the
nation-building process. The ECI also honors and felicitates the best
electoral practices and initiatives, such as the National Awards for Excellence
in Election Management, the National Media Awards, and the National CSO Awards,
to recognize and reward the efforts and achievements of the election officials,
the media, and the civil society organizations, who play a vital role in
facilitating and enhancing the electoral process.
National
Voters’ Day is a day to reaffirm our faith and commitment to the democracy and
the constitution, and to express our gratitude and respect to the ECI and its
functionaries, who work tirelessly and diligently to uphold the sanctity and
integrity of the electoral process. As the former Chief Election Commissioner
of India, Shri Sushil Chandra, said in his message on the occasion of National
Voters’ Day 2022, “The ECI is committed to provide a safe, secure,
accessible, and inclusive electoral environment to all the voters, especially
the new voters, who are the future of our democracy. We urge all the voters to
exercise their franchise in every election, and to make their vote count.”
Conclusion:
National Voters’ Day: A Call to Action
In this blog,
we have discussed what is National Voters’ Day, how and why it is celebrated,
what is its history and significance, and what are the objectives and
achievements of the ECI in conducting free and fair elections in India.
National
Voters’ Day is not only a day to commemorate the ECI and its role in
strengthening the democracy and empowering the voters in India, but also a day
to inspire and mobilize the voters to exercise their franchise in every
election, and to make their vote count. Voting is not only a constitutional
right, but also a sacred duty. By voting, we not only express our will, but
also contribute to the nation-building process.
As a voter, I
feel proud and privileged to be a part of the world’s largest democracy, and to
have a voice and a choice in the governance of my country. I have always voted
in every election, and I have always made informed and ethical choices, based
on my own judgement and assessment of the candidates and parties. I believe
that voting is a powerful and positive way to bring about change and
development in the society.
I urge all the
readers of this blog, especially the young and new voters, to register and enroll themselves as voters, to educate themselves about the electoral process
and the candidates and parties, to participate and vote in every election, and
to make informed and ethical choices. Remember, your vote is your voice, and
your voice matters.
Thank you for
reading this blog. I hope you found it informative and interesting. Please
share your feedback and comments below. Happy National Voters’ Day!
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