“ Young Voters @ A nand ”

1. Use of Social Networking forums as platform for awareness creation among young voters… “ Young Voters @ Anand ” A Case Study of Anand District, Gujarat

2. ANAND DISTRICT – An Introduction • No. of Assembly Constituencies – 7 • No. of registered voters - 14,14,528 (as on, 1.10.11) • Census Population – 20,90,276 • No. of voters in 18-19 age group – 11,132 (as on, 1.10.11) i.e. 0.53%of total district population, • E-P Ratio : 67.67% • EPIC Coverage : 96.08%

4. Anand – An Educational Hub • Vallabh Vidyanagar – Education Hub of gujarat, • 89 colleges with approx. 30,000 students, • 3 universities – Sardar Patel University, Anand Agriculture University, Charotar University of Science and Technology,

5. Voters Information : As on 01/10/2011

6. Young Voters’ Mobilisation Campaign • Summary Revision 2010-11 • Discussion groups in Social Networking Sites – Facebook, Twitter launched, • SEMCOM College as nodal centre for the work, • Young Voters @ Anand Logo developed. • Summary Revision 2011-12 • Meeting with all Registrars, College Principals by DEO, • Regular follow-up with Designated Officers by AEROs.

7. Young Voters @ Anand • String of Activities planned in December-January as run-up to National Voters’ Day on 25.1.12, • Meeting with Vice-Chancellor, SP University, • Calendar of Events such as Debate, Quiz, Group-Discussion, Essay, Slogan Writing Competitions, • Young Voters’ Conference, • Setting up of Young Voters’ Club as an extra-curricular activity group.

8. On SEMCOM’s Website : • For visiting this page just type http://www.semcom.ac.in/vote • The logo appears on home page named “Nodal Center for Young Voters at Anand SEMCOM Voters’ Club”.

10. News Page :

11. LINK FOR REGISTRATION ON SEMCOM’S WEBSITE • Registration link allows the user to download Form 6, however, presently, the submission of form is done manually. • After starting this website about 200 students applied for registration in Electoral Roll, the data is in SEMCOM’s Server. • Future Planning for Online Registration • After Completion of the Process for Registration Form, any user can apply for registration directly online, then the Application of User will send to District Election Officer and Collector, Anand for accept or reject the application. • District Election Officer and Collector will send these applications to AERO at Taluka Level. • AERO will check the recommended documents for Registration of User, and take decision. • This can be integrated with ERMS after building in the requisite safeguards.

12. Social Networking Forums • TWITTER • “Voters Club Anand” is the Blog on Twitter. • http://www.twitter.com/votersclubanand • In this Blog, there are tweets on National Voters Day. • There is also a Link to apply for Registration in Electoral Roll. • FACEBOOK • There is a community named “Young Voters Club Anand” on facebook. • There is a Pledge for National Voters Day, the Photographs of Celebration of National Voters Day-2011 at Anand were uploaded. • In this page there is a link for new registration.

13. Facebook Page :

14. Impact Assessment • Emphasis on registration of Young Voters during continuous updation, Summary Revision to correct the imbalance in 18-19 age cohort ratio, • Summary Revision 2011-12 • Of the 31,538 Form 6 received, 12541 i.e. 40% of the total were in the age group 18-19, 13,795 i.e. 43.74% of the total in the age group 20-29. • On 1.10.11, 11,132 voters were registered in 18-19 age group, hence, in Summary revision 2011-12 alone, a 100% increase in this category is likely to take place. • Learnings: • Social Networking Forums need to be supported by other Mobilisation Activities spearheaded by the Educational Institutions themselves. • Need to sensitize the College Management and motivate faculty members to ensure maximum participation of young voters in the electoral process.

15. Thank You