INTRODUCTION
Election Commission of India (ECI) has realized the importance of electoral participation and literacy to these young prospective voters of our country. With this vision in mind, the ECI initiated a national programme in 2010 titled Systematic Voters‟ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP). The programme mainly focused on voter awareness and information and motivation of voters for enhancing electoral participation of the voters in India. In view of the sustained efforts under SVEEP (Phase I and II), the voter turnout increased to 66.44% during General Elections 2014 from 58.19% during 2009 LokSabah Elections with substantial increase in voter turnout in assembly elections as well.
VISION
To make its utmost contribution to have an active democratic citizenry originating in integrated civic and voter education and electoral participation right from a young age.
ELECTORAL LITERACY CLUB
The ECI has decided to carry forward the efforts of both phases of SVEEP by moving into SVEEP Phase III. One of the strategic pillars of SVEEP III is „Continuous Electoral Literacy and Democracy Education‟. This phase is being build up with an aim of mainstreaming of electoral literacy among the young and future voters through the curricular, co-curricular and extracurricular interventions at the school, college and the university level including well designed coverage to the voter populations of that age group not covered under the formal educational system. In pursuance of this, ECI has decided to establish Electoral Literacy Clubs (ELC) in educational institutions for strengthening the culture of electoral participation among young and future voters. The idea behind establishing such clubs is that they shall be the seat of learning through hands on experience and envisaged to serve as a vibrant hub of Electoral Literacy direct interaction in education and other institutions in the country. As a first step in this process, St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi has established an Electoral Literacy Club and is working towards making young and future voters electorally literate.
Objectives and Functions of ELC
- Providing hands-on experience to students, enabling them to learn about voter registration, the electoral process, and related matters.
- Organizing sessions and demonstrations to familiarize students with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), highlighting the robustness of EVMs and the integrity of the electoral process.
- Empowering students to understand the significance of their vote and encouraging them to exercise their suffrage rights with confidence, comfort, and ethical responsibility.
- Offering assistance and support to eligible members of the target audience who are not yet registered voters, facilitating their voter registration process.
- Conducting informative campaigns and activities that emphasize the value of each individual’s vote, emphasizing the importance of active participation in the democratic process.
- Collaborating with relevant authorities and organizations to provide accurate and up-to-date information on voter registration requirements and procedures.
- Organizing workshops, seminars, and interactive sessions to address any queries or concerns related to voter registration and the electoral process.
- Collaborating with local election authorities to establish voter registration drives and on campus registration centres, ensuring convenient access for students to register as voters.
- Promoting a culture of civic engagement and responsible voting by incorporating voter education initiatives into the curriculum and extracurricular activities.
- Regularly evaluating and updating the voter education programs to ensure their effectiveness in equipping students with the necessary knowledge and skills for active participation in the electoral process.
