About 46 per cent of the 1.20 lakh youth in the age group of 18-19 in the district are yet to enrol their names in the voters list.
The district had a total electorate of 19, 35,529, accounting for 69.60 per cent of its population of 27.81 lakhs. Of the 1.20 lakh youth in the age group of 18-19, only 67,754 have enrolled themselves in the voters list.
This was disclosed by Collector Jayashree Muralidharan during National Voters Day Observation in the city on Friday. Distribution of Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) to newly enrolled voters, awareness rallies and administration of pledges, a mini marathon and cultural events, emphasising the importance of citizens exercising their democratic duties, marked the observation.
Speaking at a function to distribute prizes to winners of various competitions organised in connection with Voters Day, Ms.Muralidharan emphasised the need for youngsters to register their names in the electoral rolls to exercise their democratic duty.
The enrolment among youngsters was much lower in comparison to those in higher age groups, she said and appealed to youngsters to enrol their names in the voters list without fail during the summer holidays by approaching respective Revenue Divisional Offices. They could also register their names online through the Election Commission website. Highlighting the strengths of the electoral system in the country, Ms.Muralidharan said unlike in several developed nations, the results of the elections here are counted and declared in a day. It was also necessary that the sensitisation campaign to enrol voters did not end with the National Voters Day but continued on a sustained basis. P.Velmurugan, District Principal and Sessions Judge, who inaugurated the distributed of EPICs to young voters, said it was essential that each and every citizen exercised their franchise to ensure that the largest democracy in the world was also the strongest.
Earlier, Ms.Muralidharan flagged off a rally and a mini marathon by college students. Mr.Velmurugan distributed prizes to winners of quiz, collage, slogan writing, and painting competitions organised as part of the observation.
The process of distributing EPICs to about 92,050 new voters enrolled during the recent summary revision of electoral rolls began in the district.
The cards would be distributed door-to-door from Saturday to those who have not received the cards on Friday.
In Tiruchi city limits the cards were distributed through 494 polling stations. Those seeking corrections in the cards could apply through Form 8 at the respective Corporation zonal offices, Corporation Commissioner V.P.Thandapani said in a release.
