A citizen's right to vote is a powerful tool and an invaluable means of exercising his or her choice to participate in the process of governance in a country through universal adult franchise. Even though our democracy has progressed, not every citizen is aware of the significance of a vote's role in establishing democracy. Voting rates have not been encouraging in various regions due to inhibition or hesitation as well as some peculiar reasons, affecting the larger process of building a participatory democracy.
To address this trend, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has been taking various actions from time to time.
How is National Voters' Day celebrated?
Since 2011, National Voters' Day has been observed on January 25.
This day commemorates the Election Commission of India's foundation, which was established on this date in 1950.
Over ten million locations across the country host the celebrations, including areas of polling stations, subdivisions, divisions, district headquarters, and state headquarters.
National Voter Day has been a tradition since its inception as an annual celebration of democracy and voter participation in the nation.
The various events that take place throughout the year are influenced by the theme of National Voters' Day.
What is National Voters' Day's Focus?
Under ECI's premise of "No Voter to be Left Behind," the decadal journey of National Voters' Day and Systematic Voter's Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP), the flagship voter education program, has focused on inclusion, strategies, and action plans for enhancing participation from all categories of voters.
The celebration of National Voters' Day focuses primarily on encouraging, facilitating, and increasing enrollment, particularly among new voters.
The day is held in honor of the country's voters to raise voter awareness and encourage informed participation in the electoral process.
Additionally, it is intended to encourage, facilitate, and maximize enrollment, particularly among new voters.
What is the Voters' Pledge concept?
The voter's pledge is a step taken by authority to appeal to young voters and encourage their collective participation and responsibility.
It reads as follows: "We, the Citizens of India, having abiding faith in democracy, hereby pledge to uphold the democratic traditions of our country and the dignity of free, fair, and peaceful elections, and to vote in every election fearlessly and without being influenced by considerations of religion, race, caste, community, language, or any inducement." This pledge is made in order to uphold India's democratic traditions.
What is the Celebration of National Voters' Day?
Numerous events are held to raise public awareness and encourage participation on this day.
On January 25, 2021, the nation celebrated the 11th National Voters' Day, with the President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, attending a virtual, online event held in New Delhi.
National Voters' Day celebrations across the nation now include both in-person and online events as a result of COVID-19.
"Making Our Voters Empowered, Vigilant, Safe, and Informed" was the theme for National Voters' Day 2021.
This reaffirms the Election Commission of India (ECI)'s commitment to holding COVID-safe elections and educating, educating, and educating each voter.
There were two distinct digital initiatives unveiled. The Commission is introducing digital voter identity cards, or e-EPICs, that can be printed on a computer or downloaded to a mobile device.
By logging in from the Voter Helpline Mobile App, the Voter Portal, or the National Voters' Service Portal, voters can access this.
The Hon'ble President of India unveiled "Radio Hello Voters," a 24-hour online digital radio service that will broadcast voter education programs that can be accessed on the Election Commission of India website.
It was planned that Radio Hello Voters would provide information on the electoral process through songs, drama, discussions, podcasts, spots, parodies, and other forms of media. in a variety of regional languages from across the nation in addition to Hindi and English.
Initially, the e-EPIC could only be downloaded by newly enrolled voters with a unique mobile number; however, starting on February 1, 2021, this option was made available to all other voters.
Officers were virtually awarded the National Awards for the Best Electoral Practices by the President of India in recognition of their outstanding performance in various spheres of election administration.
Media outlets and government departments were also recognized for their outstanding contributions to voter education and outreach.
One of the primary goals of the 11th National Voters' Day, according to Election Commissioner Shri Sushil Chandra, was to empower newly registered voters to vote in an informed, ethical, and vigilant manner.
Programs held as part of the National Voters' Day celebration Three publications were released by the then-Honorable Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad as part of the celebration.
Organizing Elections During a Pandemic: A Photographic Tour:
The difficult process of holding elections during a pandemic is captured in this photo book.
The country's biennial election to the Rajya Sabha was the first election that the Commission successfully held.
Legislative Assembly Elections in Bihar, one of the largest of its kind worldwide during the pandemic, followed. In addition, 60 constituencies in various states underwent bye-elections.
SVEEP Projects: Initiatives to raise voter awareness during the Lok Sabha Election in 2019 This book provides an in-depth look at voter awareness initiatives, innovations, and interventions during the 17th General Election in 2019.
This captured the spirit of "Desh Ka Mahatyohar," the nation's largest celebration of democracy that broke down gender, caste, creed, and religion barriers.
Chalo Karen Matdaan is a comic book with the purpose of entertaining and provoking voter education.
This comic aims to educate the general public about electoral procedures by featuring interesting and relatable characters that target young, new, and future voters.
Conclusion It is common knowledge that gaining the right to vote requires a lot of effort on the part of individuals all over the world. Our Constitution has granted equal voting rights to all citizens since independence, without regard to merit, religion, race, or caste. The right to vote is rightly regarded as essential for a functioning democracy. It urges all citizens, particularly those who have been granted the right to vote for the first time, to exercise their right to vote with the utmost sincerity and inspire others to do the same.
The Election Commission has taken a number of different initiatives to spread the word about National Voters' Day. These efforts emphasize the importance of participatory democracy and our collective efforts to make the celebration of democracy smooth, inclusive, safe, and free of any outside influence in order to build a stronger and more vibrant democracy. Because of this, our elections are sacred and serve as a model for others.
Our gratitude to the founding fathers and our faith in the constitution are reaffirmed on National Voters' Day. The creators of our Constitution owe a debt to this generation and future generations. This debt can only be paid off if citizens truly understand the power of their vote and diligently exercise their right to vote.
The Polity and Current Affairs sections of the UPSC syllabus for the Preliminary and Main Stages of the Civil Services Exam can benefit from this article.
Why is January 25 designated as National Voters' Day?
Every year on January 25th, India observes National Voters' Day. The Election Commission of India was established on this day in 1950, making it National Voters' Day in 2011. The day aims to ensure universal adult franchise and increase voter registration, particularly among newly eligible young voters.
What is the celebration of National Voters' Day?
Every year, a theme is used to celebrate National Voters' Day. The slogan for 2019 was "No voter to be left behind." The government runs campaigns on this day to encourage voters, particularly young voters, to get involved in politics. Excellence and innovation in election procedures receive national awards. These awards honor the election machinery, government departments, media, and PSUs for their contributions.
In India, who can vote?
Indian citizens who are at least 18 years old on the qualifying date are eligible to vote, per the Constitution.
Under the Citizenship Act, Indian citizens are entitled to vote regardless of their previous status as subjugation, race, or color. NRIs with Indian passports are eligible to vote.
About the Election Commission of India (ECI) The appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner led to the creation of the Election Commission of India on January 25, 1950. The Indian constitution's Article 324 governs its operation. A chief election commissioner and two additional commissioners make up its three members. For six-year terms, they are appointed by the Indian President. The Constitution grants authority to the Election Commission.
What is the function of the Indian Election Commission?
The Election Commission oversees India's largest democratic exercise, which is the world's largest. It holds elections for the country's president and vice president, the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha, state legislative assemblies, and state legislative councils. In India, ECI is regarded as the guardian of elections and is in charge of holding free and fair elections. It issues advisory Model Code of Conduct guidelines that political parties and their candidates are required to adhere to. The ECI can be notified of violations of the code. However, the commission lacks regulatory authority. The guidelines for electoral morality are contained in the Model Code of Conduct.
ECI determines poll schedules, maintains electoral rolls, and limits poll expenditure. Voting patterns that could sway voters are either made public or forbidden by the commission. The commission has appointed officers from the Indian Revenue Service to serve as Election Observers at all elections in order to reduce the influence of cash for votes.
A candidate's affidavit, which must be completed at the time of nomination filing, is used by the Election Commission to assess the candidate's financial situation.
It has also been given the authority of a civil court to look into complaints and enforce election rules, as well as the responsibility of allocating broadcast time on the state-owned cable television network and other electronic media.
Why is it celebrated on National Voters' Day?
In order to commemorate the founding day of the Election Commission of India, the independent constitutional authority in charge of conducting elections, National Voters' Day (NVD) is observed nationwide. This was started in 2011 by the government of Manmohan Singh.
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