Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, April, 5: Dr. Neha Arora, Additional Chief Electoral Officer, emphasized the importance of addressing low voter turnout centers from previous elections. In a directive issued, she urged district officers to personally visit polling stations where voter turnout was below the national average in past elections.
Officers, not below the rank of Block Development Officer, were instructed to promptly resolve any issues faced by voters at these identified polling stations. They are to collaborate with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and members of the polling station’s awareness group to ensure seamless voting experiences. Individuals whose names are not registered in the electoral list are encouraged to submit Form-6 before the prescribed deadline. The aim is to boost voter participation by addressing underlying reasons for apathy towards voting.
Dr. Neha Arora conducted a comprehensive review of the ongoing Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programs across all districts via video-conferencing from Election House, Dhurwa. She stressed the need for tailored communication strategies to reach every voter effectively. This includes leveraging Voter Awareness Forums in urban areas, educational institutions’ brand ambassadors, election icons in districts, and awareness groups in rural areas.
Expressing concern over the lack of Form-6 submissions in several polling stations, Dr. Neha Arora urged officers to take immediate action on such cases. Necessary guidelines were provided to Deputy Election Officers, District Public Relations Officers, SVEEP Nodal Officers, Assistant Public Relations Officers (APROs), and Social Media Publicity Officers (SMPOs) to ensure the seamless execution of voter awareness initiatives.