BMC polls: Companies announce incentives to increase voter turnout

A circular will be sent out in the company, giving employees two hours in the morning of February 21 or their evenings free, even re-scheduling their meetings. On February 22, the employees come back to the organisation and report if they have voted

With voter turnout traditionally low in Mumbai, a not-for-profit organisation, Mumbai First, along with the state election commission (SEC) looks to do its bit to increase it on February 21 — polling day. As part of its Vote4Mumbai campaign, the NGO has roped in corporate houses who will ask their employees to vote and also create a competition around it.

A circular will be sent out in the company, giving employees two hours in the morning of February 21 or their evenings free, even re-scheduling their meetings. On February 22, the employees come back to the organisation and report if they have voted (HT)

First, the organisation will record the number of registered voters in each team of a company.

A circular will be sent out in the company, giving employees two hours in the morning of February 21 or their evenings free, even re-scheduling their meetings. On February 22, the employees come back to the organisation and report if they have voted.

Mumbai First has asked organisations to hold employees accountable if they fail to vote. The organisations have also announced incentives for teams who register a 100% turnout from their team.

The challenge is created for individuals, housing societies and colleges. Around 100 institutions are participating in the challenge, including the Mahindra group, ICICI bank, Vodafone, Godrej, Reliance, Paytm among others. “We have not stopped at just asking people to pledge that they will vote. Organisations with the highest percentage of voters stands to be invited to chalk out Mumbai’s development map,” said Shishir Joshi, Mumbai First.

The voter turnout during the civic elections has not been more than 44% over the past many years. A ward, known for its active citizen participation and comprises areas like Colaba, Churchgate and CST, registered the lowest voting turnout during the 2012 civic polls.

Of the 24 administrative wards, ‘A’ ward saw its voting percentage for the 2012 polls at 34.10% . While there were 1.54 lakh voters, only 52,628 turned up at voting booths.

As all the major parties are contesting separately. the voter turnout will be an important factor to decide who will rule the country’s richest civic body.

At present, 4,12,738 individuals have pledged to vote on Vote4Mumbai website.

What’s the plan?

As part of its Vote4Mumbai campaign, Mumbai First, an NGO, has roped in corporate houses who will ask their employees to vote and also create a competition around it.

How?

First, the organisation will record the number of registered voters in each team of a company.

A circular will be sent out in the company, giving employees two hours in the morning of February 21 or their evenings free, even re-scheduling their meetings

On February 22, the employees come back to the organisation and report if they have voted

The organisations have also announced incentives for teams who register a 100% turnout from their team.

Around 100 institutions are participating in the initiative, including the Mahindra group, ICICI bank, Vodafone, Godrej, Reliance, Paytm among others

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