Lok Sabha elections 2024: Here’s how Jalgaon has enticed its residents to come vote

The paintings have been done to convey the importance of elections. Pics/Ashish Raje

From indulging in nail art to engaging with beauty salons, participating in weddings, touring colleges, and even embracing a mascot named Ekki, the Jalgaon district election office is omnipresent despite the blistering heat. Employing an innovative strategy to bolster voter turnout and awareness during the Lok Sabha elections, officials in Jalgaon district have embraced a data-centric approach to decipher and motivate voters to cast their votes at the polling stations.

In 2019, there was a 56.12 per cent turnout in Jalgaon and 61.40 per cent in Raver, lower than the numbers in 2014, when it was 58 per cent in Jalgaon and 63.48 per cent in Raver. The administration this time hopes to get to the root of the cause and increase the vote count in 2024.

A visitor watches paintings related to the importance of election at an art gallery

"We got the data, and based on it, we were able to identify the categories of people among whom the vote count is low. We then targeted these people to bring them out this time. Who are these people? There were about five categories - youth, first-time voters, women, senior citizens, select tribal communities, and those with urban apathy. Once we narrowed down on these," Jalgaon district collector Ayush Prasad said.

"We targetted the youth and first-time voters by adopting a method called tabula rasa, where we asked students to write whatever thought came to their mind first on a blank sheet of paper. This is exactly what one will do in the election booth. Vote for a slot. This is being done in several colleges and among students to send across the message of the importance of voting," he said. "The next group we focused on were women. We reached out to them by engaging in events where they commonly gather, such as yoga classes, beauty parlors, gatherings, and even weddings. We collaborated with beauticians to create nail art to raise awareness for our cause.

Additionally, we introduced a mascot named Ekki, who went to wedding events and gatherings, delivering messages about the significance of voting and providing details about the polling venue and date," he explained.

"For the other categories of senior citizens who read newspapers, we created an inland letter conveying the message of the importance of polls and the venue and date, welcoming them all. For those with urban apathy, a bit of all of the measures were adopted," he said.

"When we approached the tribal communities and asked them why they stayed away from the voting booths and other such government machinery, they said they feared being reprimanded by officials as no one ever talked to them with respect. They were afraid that if they went to vote and ended up damaging the EVM, what would happen? I have now instructed teams to be inclusive, be humble, and cooperate with all," says Prasad, adding that with such measures, we hope to improve the vote count.

Illegal alcohol factory busted

On May 6, the Jalgaon state excise department busted an illegal liquor factory in MIDC in Jalgaon. The factory was producing a specific brand of country liquor for alleged distribution during elections. The department seized items worth lakhs and arrested five suspects, including the factory's in-charge. "The factory was shut and we found a sudden flurry of activity," Jalgaon district collector Ayush Prasad told mid-day.

56.12%
Voter turnout in Jalgaon in 2019