The Election Commission of India on Thursday said that 451 million people have cast their votes in the first four phases of the Lok Sabha elections, indicating a voter turnout of approximately 66.95% across polling stations.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the ECI highlighted various initiative to boost voting turnout.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in voter awareness programs, noting the enthusiastic participation of various institutions, influencers, and celebrities on a pro-bono basis. He highlighted that a high voter turnout would not only reflect the strength of Indian democracy but also send a powerful message to the world.
Various stakeholders have joined hands in driving voter awareness across multiple platforms:
Telecom Service Providers: Companies like Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd., Bharti Airtel Limited, Jio Telecommunication, and Vodafone-Idea Ltd. are reaching out to mobile users through SMS, calls, and messaging services in regional languages.
Voter Awareness during IPL Matches: Collaborating with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the ECI is running voter awareness activities during IPL matches, with Sachin Tendulkar administering the voter’s pledge in pre-recorded video messages.
Social Media and Digital Platforms: Facebook, WhatsApp, Google, and other digital platforms are actively disseminating voter awareness messages and integrating voter guides into their interfaces.
Retail and Consumer Brands: Retail Association of India, AMUL, Mother Dairy, and other brands are leveraging their networks and branding platforms to encourage voter participation.
Transportation and Travel Sector: Airlines, railway stations, airports, and ride-hailing apps like Uber are integrating voter awareness messages into their services, offering discounts and incentives to voters.
Entertainment Industry: Cinema theatres, music apps like Spotify, and online platforms like BookMyShow are promoting voter awareness through films, playlists, and campaigns.
By Manish Poswal