Mangaluru
District Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) Committee in Dakshina Kannada has identified 72 polling stations with low voter turnout during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. K Anandh, Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Panchayat and SVEEP Committee Nodal Officer, unveiled micro plans for targeted campaigns in these areas.
Strategies include engaging with voters, investigating the decline in voter participation, and launching innovative initiatives with the help of 14 ambassadors. The committee aims to boost voter turnout and ensure a more engaged electorate in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections through target-focused interventions, Anandh told.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the district’s average polling was 78 percent, and the state average was 68 percent. We found the polling percentage in 72 polling stations in the district to be lesser than the state average. Hence, a micro plan has been prepared for each of the 72 polling stations.
In addition, hoardings, banners, smart displays, and audio jingles are also being used to create awareness among voters. Meanwhile, 14 influencers like actor Aravind Bolar and other local achievers are also being roped in to influence voters. The Committee is also planning to carry out novel voter awareness drives, which include underwater and sky campaigns. Further, awareness programmes will be held for tourists at beaches, he added.
