Lok Sabha polls 2024: ECI teams up with banks, post offices to boost voter participation

New Delhi: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, banks and post offices will help ECI step up voter outreach and education ahead of the General Elections to Lok Sabha 2024.

To achieve this purpose, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and the Department of Posts (DoP) on Monday. ECI plans to spread its message on the importance of voting to a wide audience through 1.6 lakh bank branches, over two lakh ATMs and 1.55 lakh post offices across India.

Electoral literacy in schools

The initiative is in continuation of ECI’s efforts to enhance electoral awareness in the country.

The ECI had also recently signed a MoU with the Ministry of Education to formally integrate electoral literacy into the educational curriculum of schools and colleges. The MoU with banks and post offices was signed in the presence of chief election commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar and election commissioner Arun Goel. Vineet Pandey, secretary, department of posts, Sunil Mehta, chief executive, IBA and other officials from the DoP, IBA and ECI were present on the occasion.

Voter education

As part of the MoU, IBA and DoP with its members and affiliated institutions/units will extend support in promoting voter education through their extensive network on a pro bono basis, employing various interventions to empower citizens with knowledge about their electoral rights, processes, and steps for registration and voting.

Key highlights of MoU

- Members and affiliated institutions/units will display voter education messages prominently on their websites, directing visitors to learn more about the electoral process.

- Voter education content will be disseminated through various promotional channels such as social media and customer outreach platforms of member institutions, ensuring widespread awareness among stakeholders and the public.

- Voter education messages will be displayed in the form of posters, flex, and hoardings at office infrastructure/premises at major locations, reaching customers at key touch-points.

- All member institutions under IBA and DoP will establish a Voter Awareness Forum to engage employees and customers in discussions and initiatives related to voter education.

- Inform the training module on SVEEP (Systematic Voter’s Education and Electoral Participation) in the regular orientation programmes of employees of IBA and DoP.

- The Department of Posts will affix a special cancellation stamp (bearing voter education messages) on the postal articles.

Around 30 crore electors withheld voting in 2019 LS polls

“Despite successfully managing and conducting elections by the ECI over the years fairly and peacefully along with a significant increase in participation of the electors, there is also a concern that around 30 crore electors (out of 91 crores), did not cast their votes in the General Elections to Lok Sabha 2019. The voting percentage was 67.4 per cent, which the commission has taken as a challenge to improve upon,” said Anuj Chandak, joint director (media), ECI.

This collaboration with IBA and DoP signifies a significant step towards strengthening democracy by empowering citizens with knowledge and awareness about their electoral rights and responsibilities. Through concerted efforts, both organisations are committed to fostering a culture of informed and active participation in the electoral process, added the joint director.