The Karnataka assembly election is all set to take place on May 10, 2023, according to the Election Commission. The counting of votes will occur on May 13.
In a bid to counter voter apathy, the Election Commission has scheduled the polling day in the middle of the week to deter people from planning a holiday by combining the poll-day with the weekend break.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar explained that Wednesday was chosen as the polling day to prevent people from taking an extra day off to go out of town. “Had it been on a Monday, it would have come with a holiday of Saturday and Sunday. And had it been on a Tuesday, take a day’s off and we can go out…Wednesday is a little difficult,” he said while announcing the date of the Karnataka poll.
The Election Commission aims to increase voter turnout by creating awareness in schools, colleges, organizations, and resident welfare associations. It is also collaborating with IT firms, start-ups, and colleges to raise awareness about the importance of voting. ‘Electhons,’ an initiative aimed at increasing voter participation and registration of new voters, is also in the works.
The CEC noted that nine of the top 20 constituencies with the lowest voter turnout in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls were urban. This trend was also evident in the recent Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections held in 2022.
The Election Commission hopes that its focused interventions and initiatives will ensure greater participation and curb voter apathy. So, mark your calendars for May 10 and exercise your right to vote!
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