Dharwad
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has been focusing on increasing the participation of people in the democratic process and has introduced several programs like Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) to create awareness among eligible people about the need to enroll their names in the voters’ list and cast their vote on the polling day. However, the efforts of the ECI have not been successful, especially among the cynical urban voters, who are considered educated and enlightened. Statistics show that rural voters have consistently outperformed their urban counterparts. The urban population, despite being exposed to media and discussing political developments, often fail to turn up to vote on polling day, citing trivial excuses. Many urban voters do not even bother to check whether their names are on the voters’ list, despite easy access to such information. In contrast, rural voters diligently visit polling booths regardless of weather conditions to exercise their franchise. Poll officials conduct SVEEP awareness programs, but these are often perceived as entertainment rather than effective engagement by the voters.
