Low voter turnout continues to be a matter of concern as the country is voting to elect representatives of the 18th Lok Sabha. Till now three phases of voting have taken place out of the seven, with the fourth phase scheduled for May 13.
The first, second and third phases saw a voter turnout of 66.14 per cent, 66.71 per cent and 65.68 per cent respectively.
As “urban apathy” remains a point of concern, poll bodies as well as district administration are going the extra mile to bring voters to exercise their franchise. Here’s how:
Delhi announces holiday on May 25
As Delhi votes for the Lok Sabha elections on May 25, the Chief Electoral Office of Delhi announced a paid holiday in the national capital.
According to the order, all eligible employees — public or private — who are voters in Delhi are entitled to a paid holiday to exercise their democratic right to vote on the polling day.
Voters from neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan working in Delhi are also entitled to the paid holiday, it said.
Movie discounts in Gurugram
The Gurugram district administration has come up with a unique initiative to get more voters to come and vote on May 25, when the Gurgaon parliamentary constituency will vote.
Officials have announced discounts on movie tickets and food items in the multiplexes, besides complimentary refreshments. All one needs to do is flaunt their inked finger, and ask for the discounts on offline tickets.
In some multiplexes, voters will also get complimentary refreshments, Hitesh Kumar Meena, ADC, and nodal officer for the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme, Gurugram, said.
All 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana will be voting on May 25.
Further, Gurugram district administration has also roped in Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal as the ‘brand ambassador’ to boost voter turnout.
MP’s ‘free poha’, ‘lucky draw’ initiative
In Bhopal and Gwalior, where voting took place on Tuesday, and also in Indore, which votes in the fourth phase, bus operators have pledged to offer free rides for three days to those who have cast their votes.
Further, lucky draws are being conducted at polling booths, with prizes including T-shirts and caps.
In Bhopal, voters who participated on Tuesday had the opportunity to win prizes such as diamond rings, refrigerators, televisions, washing machines, and more.
Meanwhile, in Indore, traders’ associations have distributed complimentary breakfast consisting of the famous poha and jalebi to voters. Not just this, pathology labs have committed to providing discounts to voters who display an inked finger as proof of voting.
Discounts on Mumbai metro fare
The Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited (MMMOCL) has declared a 10 per cent discount on tickets for commuters on May 20, coinciding with the city’s polling day for the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections.
According to a statement released by the MMMOCL, passengers travelling on Metro line 2A and line 7 will be eligible for a 10 percent discount on polling day.
On May 20, five Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai will cast their votes in the final phase of the general election.
