The District Election Office in East Khasi Hills has identified five polling stations with low voter turnout during the last Assembly elections in 2018.
Deputy Commissioner, SC Sadhu informed that Mawryngkneng, Mawiong Sung, Khongshnong polling stations has the lowest voter turnout in 2018 with a total percentage of 54.61 per cent. He said the male voters accounted for 62.07 per cent and female with 44.62 per cent.
Sadhu informed that Mawlai, Umshing Mawkynroh C polling station had only 49.11 per cent total voter turnout in 2018 (49.61 per cent male and 48.62 per cent female).
“It is alarming to see some polling stations with low female voter turnout less than 50 per cent. We should encourage women to come forward and vote,” Sadhu said.
To address this, the office conducted an outreach programme today which was attended by locality heads, who suggested steps and strategies to improve voter participation in the Assembly Elections to be held on February 27.
The rangbah shnongs suggested that the DEO should reward five polling stations with high voter turnout and suggested a public announcement three days before the elections to remind voters to exercise their franchise.
Some also sought clarity on the issue of dual voters and how the system needs to worked upon and corrected since most cases the electors list are not updated.
At the programme, Sadhu stressed on maintaining neutrality by headmen and BLOs during the elections.
“We request your support to engage the people to come out in large numbers to vote. It’s a matter of great pride that Meghalaya has a high literacy rate, and shows that we have had a high voter turnout in all past elections which is a good trend and matter of pride, Assistant Commissioner Saloni Verma, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) said at the session.
It may be mentioned that last year, the office in collaboration with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) organised several electoral outreach programmes dubbed Mission UNITED 2.0 (U&I Towards Enrolment) to shake off urban apathy when it comes to elections with an objective to achieve 100 per cent enrolment and voter turnout.
