Pune District’s ‘My First Selfie Vote’ Contest Sees Overwhelming Response, Encouraging Voter Engagement
Tikam Shekhawat
Pune, 8th May 2024: In a bid to encourage youth, women, persons with disabilities, transgender individuals, and marginalized groups to exercise their voting rights, the ‘My First Selfie Vote’ contest has garnered a remarkable response across all assembly constituencies in the Lok Sabha general election. In the Baramati Lok Sabha Constituency alone, a thousand enthusiastic voters participated in the contest, symbolizing a vibrant commitment to democratic participation.
The initiative aimed to empower and engage individuals who are casting their vote for the first time, as well as those belonging to underrepresented communities. A total of 2,486 voters, comprising 1,812 men and 674 women, were registered for the contest in Baramati Lok Sabha Constituency. Out of these, participation certificates were proudly distributed to 1,001 voters who captured their voting moment at designated selfie points, informed Deputy Collector Archana Tambe.
The contest, scheduled to run from 7 am to 7 pm on the polling day of May 13, encourages participants to step outside the 100-meter limit of the polling station and take a selfie after casting their vote. These selfies are then sent to the WhatsApp number of the District Election System (9270105593), along with necessary details such as name, surname, assembly constituency, voter ID card number, or electoral roll information.
Additionally, first-time voters and eligible participants can also join the contest through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. By posting their voting selfies and tagging sveep.pune on Instagram and Sveep Pune on Facebook, they become part of this innovative engagement drive.
Out of the participants, a total of 210 voters, with 50 percent representation from young men and women, will be selected, with 10 from each assembly constituency. These selected individuals will receive participation certificates signed by the District Collector and District Election Officer, and will be designated as ‘new voters’ of Pune district for the Vidhan Sabha-2024 elections. Furthermore, 10 youth voters chosen from this group will be honored by having stands erected in their colleges or areas, adding a sense of pride and recognition to their contribution to democratic processes.
Deputy Collector Tambe emphasized that the selected participants will also be included in the Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation ‘SVEEP’ program, underscoring the significance of their engagement in shaping the electoral landscape.
