To mark the beginning of the mega drive to update the voter list-Special Summary Revision (SSR)-2023, a Cyclothon under the banner of “Pedal for Participative Elections” followed by a state-level event was organised at SAS Nagar on Wednesday. The event was aimed to sensitise youth about the significance of voting to ensure maximum electoral participation.
Leading at least 200 cyclists from Nature Park near Yadvindra Public School, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Punjab Dr S Karuna Raju pedaled along with them to Government Model Senior Secondary School in 3B-1 Mohali, where the state-level event was organised.
Additional CEO B Srinivasan and Deputy Commissioner (DC) SAS Nagar Amit Talwar also participated in the Cyclothon. Cyclists comprising students from different schools of Mohali city and volunteers of NSS participated in the Cyclothon to spread the message “Pedal for Participative Elections”.
Notably, in the interest of robust democracy, the annual updation of the voter list is an important exercise undertaken by Election Commission of India (ECI) on pan-India basis in order to ensure inclusive elections and improve the health of the electoral roll. Starting from November 9, 2022, Special Summary Revision -2023 will conclude on December 8, 2022.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Raju said, “Election Commission of India in its endeavor to ensure ‘No Voter to be left behind’ reaches out all cross-sections of society including women, persons with disability, marginalized members of society, rural and urban electors.”
He said that special emphasis is being laid to connect maximum youth and exhort them to participate in the electoral process as they are the future of the Country. Earlier, the CEO had also inspected two booths at the school and interacted with BLOs regarding SSR.On the occasion, students took the voter pledge and also performed various cultural activities giving a message to youth to participate in the electoral process.