Many feel SVEEP – Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation – to have impact on turnout during Assembly Poll 2017

Ferozepur, February 3, 2017:  Against the last year polling of 1,38,92,749 votes, 78.57 per cent polling during 2012 Assembly elections, the Election Commission expected 90 per cent polling during 2017 Assembly elections to be held on February 4, 2017.

The Punjab election will be special this time.  In fact, Punjab had looked to this election for nearly three years since the last Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and people have pinned big hopes on this election  – not for a change of government but change in nature of politics especially with the new entrant of  political party AAP against the two traditional political parties – Congress and SAD-BJP.

The District Electoral Officers under Election Commission programme to organize awareness programmes under SVEEP – Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation – at various levels, to increase the voters percentage.  Besides, the new and first time voters are very  enthusiastic to use their right to franchise to become a part of democracy. This might have impact on the overall turn-out due to SVEEP programme.

Around 12,000 first time voters have been enrolled in four constituencies of Ferozepur District – Ferozepur Rural 3934, Ferozepur Urban 1962, Guruharsahai 3185 and Zira 3130.  The total voters in the district are – 6,61,417 – Ferozepur Urban 1,64,861, Ferozepur Rural 1,76,468, Guruharsahai 1,50,258, and Zira 1,69,830.

This time, it is also going to be a triangular contest – a three-horse race and the political party leaders and workers will make all out efforts to increase the poll percentage.

Babushahi.com team had a survey around the city to have views about the polling trend. Here are four different categories persons views :

Vikramditya Sharma : Definitely. The percentage of voting will be increasing this time as so many youngsters are taking part in voting for the first time. Earlier people used to avoid to go to the polling station but this time every one want to be a part of democracy.  Yes, the reason behind could be youth power and social media played its part after victory of AAP in Delhi and the credit goes to Aam Aadmi Party for introducing  ,this in this particular process.

Deepika Wallah an employee in educational institution was of the view that the voting percentage is likely to increase as voters are aware of its importance.  Even the school children who are not even eligible to cast their vote are making aware their parents  to use their right to vote after getting a message from the school programmes. 

Sanjeev Arora an employee of railways said, Even during the Assembly polls last year, there was an increase in polling, which was also attributed to SVEEP programmes. More-over, there has been online campaign by the Election Department with ‘Vote You Must’ messages to motivate voters not to miss this opportunity to strengthen democracy with their votes. One must cast a vote to elect the right candidate.

Diwan Chand Sukhija, an active NGO retired from Health Department said,  Voting right comes to an individual after five years and one make use of it to select the candidate of his choice.  We should not curse the government for not doing something for the people if we don’t vote. As social activist, we have created awareness among the youths and local people at our every social service project.  The percentage is likely to be between 85 to 90 per cent.