Pune: Schools In Maharashtra Tasked With Registering Eligible Students On Voter Lists

Pune, 31st October 2023: In a bid to engage and empower the youth in the democratic process, the school education department of the state has initiated a comprehensive voter registration program for eligible students in classes IX to XII. Under this initiative, students will be registered in the voter list, and various awareness activities are set to be implemented.

Election Commission of India conducts a special brief revision program annually, and as part of the 2024 program, efforts are being made to update the voter list by registering new voters who turn 18 by January 1, 2024. In light of this, the Additional Chief Secretary and the Chief Electoral Officer have entrusted the responsibility of registering students as voters to the state’s secondary and higher secondary schools.

As per the special brief revision program, students in classes IX to XII across the state will be informed about the “Special Brief Revision Program 2024” by the Electoral Literacy Club. TheElectoral Literacy Club will guide students who are turning 18 between October 17, 2023, and November 30, 2023, and those who will reach 18 years of age by January 1, 2024, to fill out the registration form as new voters. Additionally, students who will attain the voting age by October 1, 2024, are encouraged to submit advance applications for new voter registration.

To enhance public awareness, election literacy boot camps and various online competitions will be conducted. EM Kazi, Joint Secretary of the School Education Department, emphasized the importance of organizing online quiz competitions in schools to promote awareness and encourage new voter registration.

The process involves schools obtaining the necessary application forms from the local Voter Registration Officer Office or Tehsil Office. These forms will be made available to students in the school, and schools have been directed to collect the registration applications submitted by students and forward them to the respective Voter Registration Officer’s office. This initiative seeks to ensure that the next generation is actively engaged in the democratic process and exercises their right to vote when they come of age.