Going to cast your vote on polling day is simple. But who to vote and how to vote are the questions you should ponder upon most! If you are a first-time voter and confused about the election maze, here are 5 tips, that will certainly guide you in the upcoming election.
1. Enrolling as a Voter
If you are an Indian citizen and have attained an age of 18 years i.e. 1st of January on the year of revision of electoral roll, a resident of the part/polling area of the constituency where you want to be enrolled and are not disqualified to be enrolled as an elector, for them Electoral commission of India offers online voter registration. If you meet the above criteria please download Voter Helpline App or visit nvsp.in to register online.
2. Become an Informed Voter
Whenever you are involved in a decision-making process that is about to decide the fate of the country, it is better to stay informed when it comes to electing a candidate. Instead of getting influenced by party propaganda or being manipulated by biased media coverage, research about parties and their candidates and vote wisely.
3. Find out About the Issues at Stake
Be it General Elections (Lok Sabha), State Assembly Elections, Rajya Sabha Elections (upper House) and Local Body Elections, dig deeper and find out about the unsolved issues during the election. If the vision of a party and a candidate is clear, he/she will stay sincere with their responsibilities and duties throughout the year. Once you probe, you can check how it matches your personal political stance, how the current government is functioning and how a government should function.
4. Where’s your Polling Place?
State election offices assign the polling place based on a voter’s address. In case, you are voting for the first time, or a student who is not sure of the location, you can contact the election office or website and find out the details. Carrying your valid ID card is a must.
5. How to cast vote?
Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) is designed to take care of the chores of casting and counting votes. An EVM is designed with two units: the control unit and the balloting unit. These units are joined together by a cable.
The control unit of the EVM is kept with the presiding officer or the polling officer. The balloting unit is kept within the voting compartment for electors to cast their votes. This is done to ensure that the polling officer verifies your identity. With the EVM, instead of issuing a ballot paper, the polling officer will press the Ballot Button which enables the voter to cast their vote. A list of candidates names and/or symbols will be available on the machine with a blue button next to it. The voter can press the button next to the candidate’s name they wish to vote for.
Who you choose to vote will reflect your opinion about your fellow citizens and country. It is not only our responsibility but a fundamental duty to vote as a citizen of India. The problems of this country can only be addressed if voters vote wisely.
Every Vote Counts!