Shillong, Jan 25: Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Roy Kharkongor on Tuesday said that election department is making efforts for online engagement to ensure Covid safe elections in the run up to the State assembly elections 2023.
Addressing the 12th National Voters' Day, Kharkongor said the election department is focusing on the use of modern technology to assist the voters to get enrolled in the voters roll, which is also used to educate the voters on electoral literacy and to ensure that no eligible voters in the State are deprived of their right to exercise their franchise.
“More efforts will be taken by the Election Machinery for online engagement to ensure Covid safe elections and Covid appropriate behaviour through contactless and digital medium, and online outreach activities, in the run up to the Assembly Elections 2023, through a triangle of safety – safety of the voter, safety of polling officials & safety of polling persons,” he said.
He said technologies and initiatives are being adopted to leverage on information communication technology with a view to reach out educate, and improve electoral literacy through the extensive usage of various technologies such as National Voters Service Portal, Helpline App and the BLO GARUDA App are being extensively used to reach out to the voters.
Kharkongor said that the election commission of India attaches the highest priority to reach out to the Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and the senior citizens to exercise their franchise.
He also indicated that this year far reaching electoral reforms were also initiated by the ECI in RP Act, registrations will now take place 4(four) times in a year, apart from 1st January, electors can now register on 1st April, 1st July & 1st October.
Meanwhile, Kharkngor said, Meghalaya's total electorate presently stands at 20,81,570 in which the male electorates account for 10,28,395 and female enrolment is slightly higher at 10,53,173.
It was also highlighted that against the new additions to the electoral roll, 65 percent are in the age group 18-19 years.
Kharkongor also informed that door step delivery of EPICs will be available in four constituencies: two rural constituencies (Chokpot and Ranikor) and two urban constituencies (Shillong South and Tura South) on a pilot project basis.
Chief Secretary Rebecca Vanessa Suchiang said Suchiang expressed hope that with the advent of technology and online engagement, the youth and urban voters will participate in greater numbers and in doing so it will reach a point where no voter is left behind, which is one of the objective of the ECI.
Suchiang lauded the State election department for rising to the occasion by conducting three bye-elections successfully last year amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Chief Secretary also urged the election machinery in the state to collectively work towards a Covid safe election and also in following Covid appropriate behaviour. (UNI)
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