Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation

2. Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation

4. Election Statistics • Voter turnout of 71.8 % ( 2014 ) • Previous Elections : 50.7% ( 2009 ) • Phenomenal increase in turnout in Chitrakonda constituency i.e. 69% in 2014

5. Total Polling percentage

6. Election Turnout as per Gender

7. Election Turnout as per constituency

8. Postal Ballot Issued: • : 32 • 2014 : 900 2014 2009

9. Challenges faced by the district administration: • Violence during the last elections • Left Wing Extremism • During December, Maoists have blown up Podia Block office which has created an atmosphere of fear • Inaccessible Villages • Cut off areas on the other side of the Chitrakonda reservoir in Kudumulagumma Block accessible only by boat.

10. Strategy • Strategy meeting at district level • Mass campaign through rallies, media, civil society organizations, self-help groups, etc. • Special focus through mike announcements, bulk SMS’ etc • Special focus on sensitive areas through posters, flexi banners and street plays at strategic locations

11. Timely distribution of Voter slips and oral intimation by Booth Level Officers • Specially designed slogans capturing the attention of the Voters • Elaborate Security Measures • Shifting of problematic booths by taking into confidence all the contestants etc • Postal Ballots to Polling Staff and personnel

12. Timely distribution of Voter slips • 3.5 lakhs Voter slips were distributed • Reading out the contents in the Voters’ slip • Presence of BLOs near the polling booths.

13. Specially designed slogans capturing the attention of the Voters: Catchy messages were identified in local language to spread awareness through various means like posters, banners, mike announcements etc. Aj AÒc Ac jè`ïLÊ jÐLÐeþ LeÞþaÐ, Aj AÒc ÒbþÐV Ò]aÐ ¼¼Ð Come, Together lets achieve our dreams, come lets vote. mþÐbþ (c], V*¼Ð) Òd _ Ò_aÞ _ÞS jèÐ\à `ÐBÜ, ÒbþÐV Ò]aÞ D`dÊ¦Æ `õÐ\àÑ `ÐBÜ ¼¼Ð I never take profit (Wine, Money) for myself, I will vote for proper candidate. ÒcÐ `ÐMÒeþ h¦ÞÆ @RÞ bþmþ Ò_[Ð aÐRÞaÐ `ÐBÜ ¼Ð I have the power to choose a good leader. A`Z*¼ ÒbþÐV A`Z*¼ h¦ÞÆ ¼¼Ð Your vote is your voice.

14. AÒc Oeþ NYÞÒR, aràþcÐ_, jeþLÐeþ NYÞaÐ … AÒc ÒbþÐV Ò]aÐ ¼¼Ð We built house, now we build Government …… Let’s vote. 18eÊþ dÞH @^ÞL a¯Æj, ÒbþÐV Ò]aÐ [Ðeþ Òc×fÞL @^ÞLÐeþ ¼¼Ð Whoever crossed 18 years, casting of vote is a Fundamental Right. ÒbþÐV ]Ð_Òeþ akÊþf ÒdÐN]Ð_, NZ[§ÆLÊ LeÞþa afѯÆÐ_ ¼¼Ð Greater participation for stronger democracy. c[]Ð_ @ÒV Ac @^ÞLÐeþ, NZ[§ÆÆ `ÐBÜ @[Þ ]eþLÐeþ ¼¼Ð Franchise is our right, essential for democracy

15. Security Measures: • Sanitization of sensitive booths • Regular combing operations • Shifting of Extremely Sensitive booths • Advance Planning to bring confidence in Vehicle Owners to spare the vehicles

16. Postal Ballots to Polling Staff and personnel: • Postal Ballot facilitation counters • Issue of 900 postal ballots. • Nodal officer at ADM level was appointed • Letters by DEO to all the departments and offices to spread awareness

17. Conclusion: • Meticulous planning ensured record voter turnout of 71.8 % in the district which is way higher by 21 percentage points from 2009. • No loss of life. • The entire team of officers, staff, and forces are squarely responsible for such an outstanding achievement.

29. Thank You.