New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is gearing up to celebrate the 14th National Voters’ Day (NVD) on January 25, 2024. The Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, will grace the national function as the Chief Guest, marking the occasion at an event in New Delhi. The celebration holds special significance as the Election Commission commemorates its 75th year of service to the nation.
Union Minister of State for Law and Justice (Independent Charge), Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, will join the event as the Guest of Honour. The celebration will also witness the presence of heads and representatives from Election Management bodies of various countries, including Maldives, Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan.
The theme for NVD 2024 is ‘Nothing Like Voting, I Vote For Sure,’ which aligns with last year’s theme dedicated to the voters. During the event, the Hon’ble President will confer the Best Electoral Practices Awards for the year 2023. These awards will recognize the outstanding contributions of state and district-level officers in the conduct of elections across various domains, including IT initiatives, security management, election management, accessible elections, electoral roll management, and voter awareness and outreach.
The event will also witness the presentation of the first copy of the ECI Publication titled ‘ECI Initiatives for General Elections 2024’ to the Hon’ble President by Chief Election Commissioner Shri Rajiv Kumar. This publication provides a comprehensive overview of the initiatives undertaken by each division of the ECI to ensure free, fair, inclusive, accessible, and participatory elections.
A short voter awareness film, ‘My Vote My Duty,’ produced by the ECI in collaboration with renowned filmmaker Shri Raj Kumar Hirani, will be screened during the event. The film features messages from various celebrities, emphasizing the spirit of democracy and the power of a single vote.
As part of the celebration, a commemorative postage stamp themed “Inclusive Elections” will be released, marking the 75th year of service of the Election Commission. An innovative multi-media campaign for Voter Education and Awareness for the forthcoming Parliamentary Elections 2024 will also be launched.
A multimedia exhibition showcasing the grandeur of Indian elections, electoral reforms, technological advancements, and election management innovations will be displayed at the event.
National Voters’ Day has been celebrated annually on January 25 since 2011, marking the foundation day of the Election Commission of India on January 25, 1950. The primary objective of NVD is to enhance electoral awareness among citizens and encourage their active participation in the electoral process. The celebration also focuses on facilitating the enrollment of new voters, particularly the youth, who are felicitated and presented with their Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) during NVD functions held across the country. NVD is celebrated at the national, state, district, constituency, and polling booth levels, making it one of the largest celebrations in the country.