National Voters’ Day 2022: The National Voters’ Day is observed on January 25 every year to mark the foundation day of the Election Commission of India in 1950. This day is meant to encourage, facilitate and maximize enrolment of new voters.
Voting is the central pillar of any functioning democracy and India, since its first general election in 1951, has adopted the principles of universal adult franchise.
Citizens vote once every five years to elect representatives to the national, state and local legislative bodies.
The power of the vote holds immense significance as it puts the will of the people into action when it comes to choosing who should govern and legislate on their behalf.
The 2019 Lok Sabha elections clocked a record turnout of 67.11%, out of over 900 million registered voters.
The Voters’ Day celebration was initiated in 2011 by the then President of India, Pratibha Devi Patil, on the 61st foundation day of the Election Commission of India.
The Election Commission of India, or ECI, was established on January 25, 1950.
The National Voters’ Day celebrated on January 25 every year since 2011 across the country to mark the foundation day of the Election Commission of India.
The ECI is a Constitutional body that is responsible to conduct free and fair elections in India at all levels of the legislature.
The poll body says the main purpose of the NVD celebration is to encourage, facilitate and maximize enrolment, especially for the new voters.
“Dedicated to the voters of the country, the day is utilized to spread awareness among voters and for promoting informed participation in the electoral process.
New voters are felicitated and handed over their Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) in the NVD functions,” according to the ECI.
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The agenda to celebrate voter’s day is to raise awareness of the importance of voting, especially among the newly eligible voters of the country.
Voting is a basic process that helps to form a country’s government. One can choose their representatives through voting. Voting rights enables people the right to question the government about issues and clarifications.
It also provides a sense of freedom to express an opinion in major decision making for the benefit of the country in a democratic nation.
To promote the electoral process among newly eligible young voters, the theme for National Voters Day this year is ‘Electoral Literacy for Stronger Democracy’.
“We, the citizens of India, having abiding faith in democracy, hereby pledge to uphold the democratic traditions of our country and the dignity of free, fair and peaceful elections, and to vote in every election fearlessly and without being influenced by considerations of religion, race, caste, community, language or any inducement.”