Meghalaya has been awarded the Best Electoral Practices Award 2021 for conducting the 2018 Assembly Elections by the Election Commission of India, Governor Satya Pal Malik said on Monday.
“It was a matter of pride and hoped that the award would encourage the Election Department to strive for better results,” Malik said addressing the 11th National Voters’ Day function at the Raj Bhawan here. Expressing happiness over the 2.59 per cent increase in voting percentage and increase in female voters turnout by 3.50 per cent in the last election compared to the previous years, the Governor encouraged and urged all the eligible youth of the state to enrol, exercise their rights and to take part in keeping the “flame of democracy alive”.
The theme for this year’s National Voters Day is, “Making our voters Empowered, Vigilant, Safe and Informed.” Malik lauded the efforts put in by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Frederick Roy Kharkongor along with the District Election Offices in “leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that the young voters take part in the electoral process”.
He said that due to the COVID -19 pandemic in the previous year, the Election Department was compelled to use virtual platforms for disseminating various voter’s education programmes, awareness and campaigns.
“It is noteworthy to state that the department had introduced E – EPIC which is portable and downloadable,” he said.
East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, Isawanda Laloo, in her address stressed on the need of active participation of the youth in the electoral process. She stated that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the electoral process was faced with many constraints, however she expressed happiness over the hard work and commitment by the field level functionaries and other stakeholders in ensuring the enrolment programmes were successful.
Laloo also stated that the Office of the District Election Officer had tied up and involved the traditional heads such as Headmen and ‘Sordars’ of various localities to help in disseminating information and identifying new and prospective voters. On the occasion, the Governor gave away prizes to the winners of the various competitions organised by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in collaboration with Meghalaya Model United Nations.
Earlier Deputy Commissioner Laloo flagged off the Wheels of Democracy Cycle Rally from Meghalaya Bharat Scouts and Guides premises in the city. The rally culminated at the Raj Bhawan.
