Ensuring Access to Every Eligible Voter is Our Priority — Chief Electoral Officer

Under the Election Commission of India’s “No Voter Left Behind” initiative, the State Election Department is making continuous efforts to register all eligible citizens who are turning 18 as voters. In this context, a meeting of the State Steering Committee on Accessible Elections was held on Friday at the Secretariat, chaired by Chief Electoral Officer Shri Naveen Mahajan.

Shri Mahajan stated that the State Election Department is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive voting experience for all voters, especially persons with disabilities. Special arrangements are being made to ensure easy access to polling stations for disabled voters. These arrangements include wheelchairs, ramps, audio-visual guidance, and various other necessary facilities, enabling all voters to exercise their right to vote without any hindrance.

The Chief Electoral Officer emphasized that Electoral Literacy Clubs in colleges must play an active role in engaging and educating new voters. He also instructed departments such as Medical, Social Justice, and Higher Education to mandatorily display the voter registration portal link on their websites. Additionally, voter registration-related options should be included in application forms collected from citizens, so that information about eligible individuals can be gathered and they can be registered as voters.

Shri Mahajan further said that to motivate voters with disabilities, specially-abled icons should be appointed as brand ambassadors at the state, district, and college levels. This initiative will help raise awareness and encourage participation among disabled citizens in the electoral process. He also suggested involving youth and well-known personalities in voter awareness campaigns through social media platforms and urging them to spread the importance of voting to every citizen.