In a SVEEP (Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation) initiative, election officials in Tiruchi have brought out invitation cards, on the lines of those printed for wedding and other ceremonies, urging the electorate to exercise their franchise without fail.
Similar to traditional marriage invites in Tamil, election officials have printed the content on an auspicious looking yellow background. The event is on April 18, the polling date in the State, with the corresponding Tamil year and month like Vihari varudam and Chithiram 5 .
The invites call upon all eligible voters to exercise their franchise between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on April 18. It adds that the voters should visit their respective polling stations with family members, relatives and friends to cast their vote.
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Impressing upon the need for ethical voting, officials have also stressed that it is illegal to distribute and receive gifts for exercising their vote and complaints on violation of model code of conduct can be lodged over toll free number 1950.
Many such invites, printed in the name of the Assistant Returning Officer, have been distributed to voters in Manachannalur and other parts of Tiruchi Lok Sabha constituency.