Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation

 • Voter turnout of 71.8 %  ( 2014 )

• Previous Elections : 50.7% ( 2009 )

• Phenomenal  increase  in  turnout  in  Chitrakonda  constituency  i.e.  69%  in 2014

Election Statistics

Total Polling percentage

Election Turnout as per Gender

Election Turnout as per constituency

2014

2009

Postal Ballot Issued:

2009 : 322014 : 900

•Violence during the last elections

•Left Wing Extremism 

•During December, Maoists have blown up Podia Block office which has created an atmosphere of fear

•Inaccessible Villages 

•Cut  off  areas  on  the  other  side  of  the  Chitrakonda  reservoir  in Kudumulagumma Block accessible only by boat. 

Challenges faced by the district administration:

• Strategy meeting at district level

• Mass campaign through rallies, media, civil society organizations, self-help groups, etc.

• Special focus through mike announcements, bulk SMS’ etc

• Special  focus  on  sensitive  areas  through  posters,  flexi  banners and street plays at strategic locations

Strategy

• Timely  distribution  of  Voter  slips  and  oral  intimation  by Booth Level Officers

• Specially  designed  slogans  capturing  the  attention  of  the Voters

• Elaborate Security Measures

• Shifting of problematic booths by taking into confidence all the contestants etc

• Postal Ballots to Polling Staff and personnel

• 3.5 lakhs Voter slips were distributed

• Reading out the contents in the Voters’ slip

• Presence of BLOs near the polling booths.

Timely distribution of Voter slips

Specially designed slogans capturing the attention of the Voters:

Catchy  messages  were  identified  in  local  language  to  spread  awareness through various means like posters, banners, mike announcements etc.

Aj AÒc Ac jè`ïLÊ jÐLÐeþ LeÞþaÐ, Aj AÒc ÒbþÐV Ò]aÐ ¼¼ÐCome, Together lets achieve our dreams, come lets vote.

 mþÐbþ (c], V*¼Ð) Òd _ Ò_aÞ _ÞS jèÐ\à `ÐBÜ, ÒbþÐV Ò]aÞ D`dÊ¦Æ `õÐ\àÑ `ÐBÜ ¼¼ÐI never take profit (Wine, Money) for myself, I will vote for proper candidate.

ÒcÐ `ÐMÒeþ h¦ÞÆ @RÞ bþmþ Ò_[Ð aÐRÞaÐ `ÐBÜ ¼ÐI have the power to choose a good leader.

A`Z*¼ ÒbþÐV A`Z*¼ h¦ÞÆ ¼¼ÐYour vote is your voice.

AÒc Oeþ NYÞÒR, aràþcÐ_, jeþLÐeþ NYÞaÐ … AÒc ÒbþÐV Ò]aÐ ¼¼ÐWe built house, now we build Government …… Let’s vote.

 18eÊþ dÞH @^ÞL a¯Æj, ÒbþÐV Ò]aÐ [Ðeþ Òc×fÞL @^ÞLÐeþ ¼¼ÐWhoever crossed 18 years, casting of vote is a Fundamental Right.

 ÒbþÐV ]Ð_Òeþ akÊþf ÒdÐN]Ð_, NZ[§ÆLÊ LeÞþa afѯÆÐ_ ¼¼ÐGreater participation for stronger democracy. 

 c[]Ð_ @ÒV Ac @^ÞLÐeþ, NZ[§ÆÆ `ÐBÜ @[Þ ]eþLÐeþ ¼¼ÐFranchise is our right, essential for democracy

Security Measures:

•Sanitization of sensitive booths

•Regular combing operations

•Shifting of Extremely Sensitive booths

•Advance  Planning  to  bring  confidence  in  Vehicle Owners  to  spare  the vehicles

Postal Ballots to Polling Staff and personnel:

•Postal Ballot facilitation counters 

•Issue of 900 postal ballots. 

•Nodal officer at ADM level was appointed 

•Letters by DEO to all the departments and offices to spread awareness

Conclusion:

•Meticulous planning ensured  record voter  turnout of 71.8 %  in  the district which is way higher by 21 percentage points from 2009. 

•No loss of life. 

•The  entire  team  of  officers,  staff,  and  forces  are  squarely  responsible  for such an outstanding achievement.

Thank You.