IMPHAL, January 25: As a part of the nationwide celebration of the 3rd National Voter’s Day celebration, the State Election Department also organize Voter’s day at the Gandhi Memorial Hall today morning, which was attended by officials of the department, NCC cadets, Nehru Yuva Kendra volunteers and the general public.
3rd national voter’s day
P.C Lawmkumga, Additional Chief Secretary; O. Nabakishore Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur and Y Rameschandra State Election Commissioner attended the function as the Chief Guest, President and the Guest of honor respectively.
N. Praveen Singh, Joint Chief Election Officer in his key note address said that January 25 has been observed as the National Voter’s day throughout the country starting from the year 2011 to commemorate the foundation day of the Election Commission of India and also to enhance the participation of voters, especially youths in the democratic process.
He continued saying that the main objective behind the National Voters Day is to increase enrollment of voters, especially of the newly eligible ones and that the day is also utilized to spread awareness regarding effective participation in the electoral processes. “The youth today are the most vibrant stakeholders of a democracy. 52 lakh youths who had attained the age of 18 years have been enrolled as first time voters in 2011,” he said. Adding that the number has increased to 1.11 crores in2012 and 1.76 crores in 2013, Praveen said that for Manipur, the number of young voters increased from 13,010 in the year 2011 to 47,143 in the year 2013 against the projected population of 61, 465 in the age group of 18-19 years. “This shows that 77% of youth of the state in the age period of 18-19 years are enrolled in the electoral rolls which is much above the national average of 50%,” he said.
P.C Lawmkunga, Additional Chief Secretary in his speech said that the duty of the voters do not finish after getting enrolled in the electoral roll and getting the election photo identity card but have the very important right to cast their vote to choose and elect the right person.He further said that in last year`s general election held in the state, various malpractices were carried out with fake voters trying to cast vote by proxy. “To check such instances, the state election department started the photo electoral identity card”, he said.
“The final electoral roll 2013 is more or less clean then the earlier years with the help of new electronic technologies where they delete double entries of voters in the state,” he added while lauding that it was all possible due to the hard work of the department.
During the celebration today prizes were distributed for various competitions held at the district and state level. Photo identity cards for a few newly enrolled voters were also distributed on the occasion.
