National Voters' Day 2024: Date, history, significance, theme this year

National Voters' Day 2024: Here's all you need to know about the date, history, significance and theme this year of National Voters' Day

They say the ballot is stronger than the bullet and rightly so, because the future of a republic is in the hands of the voters and the basic rights of the Indian voters are enshrined in the Constitution that also enumerates the responsibilities that voters need to consider before and after casting their votes. Voting is our civic responsibility and is one of the fundamental tools of which our nation has guaranteed our inalienable rights throughout our history.

Date:

National Voters' Day 2024: Date, history, significance, theme this year (Photo by Twitter/OdishaCeo)

The National Voters’ Day is celebrated every year in India on January 25 to encourage the country’s voters to participate in the electoral process. This year, it is the 14th edition which is being celebrated.

History and significance:

The first-ever National Voters’ Day was celebrated on January 25, 2011, to encourage more young voters to take part in the electoral process where the Union government, then led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, had approved a proposal of the law ministry to this effect. Former information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni at that time had pointed out that the new voters who had attained the age of 18 were showing less interest in getting enrolled in the electoral rolls.

To address this issue, the Election Commission decided to launch a nationwide effort to identify all eligible voters who reach the age of 18 on January 1, of each year, in all polling stations across India. Such voters would be enrolled and be given the Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) on January 25 every year.

Theme:

The event will also be attended by Heads and representatives of Election Management bodies viz. Maldives, Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan.