Jaipur, Aug 11 (IANS) Rajasthan, which holds a historic place in the country’s Panchayati Raj journey, is now set to take the lead in implementing the ‘One State‑One Election’ initiative, State Election Commissioner (SEC) Rajeshwar Singh said on Tuesday.
Interacting with Electoral Literacy Club officials and college principals, Singh also called upon young voters to actively participate in the democratic process and make informed electoral choices.
Singh interacted via video conference with Electoral Literacy Club (ELC) officials and college principals from the NIC meeting hall at the Government Secretariat. The programme focused on engaging young voters in the electoral process, promoting voter awareness and making electoral literacy activities more effective at the college level. Presentations on ‘One State‑One Election’, young voters and the role of Electoral Literacy Clubs were also delivered.
The State Election Commissioner said that in a democracy, every vote represents the voice of a citizen, and the active participation of young people further strengthens the democratic process. He urged young voters to ensure that their names are included in the electoral roll and to make informed voting decisions based on accurate information. He also called upon youth to exercise their right to vote judiciously and remain free from rumours, inducements and external pressure.
Singh stressed that young voters should not only participate themselves but also motivate their families and other members of the community to cast their votes. The programme emphasised transforming Electoral Literacy Clubs into “Laboratories of Democracy” through greater participation and practical activities.
Officials and college principals were encouraged to organise mock polls, role‑playing exercises, quizzes and other interactive programmes, along with providing information on voter registration, voting procedures and the electoral process.
Singh also called for essay‑writing competitions, poetry recitations, poster and rangoli competitions, slogan contests and voter‑awareness rallies at colleges. He encouraged institutions to use creative mediums such as street plays and voting‑themed songs, particularly on occasions such as Independence Day, to spread the message of electoral participation among youth and the wider public.
Highlighting Rajasthan’s role in the history of Panchayati Raj, Singh said the state has the distinction of being the birthplace of the Panchayati Raj system in the country and now has the opportunity to pioneer the ‘One State‑One Election’ initiative.
He said the decision to hold simultaneous elections for all urban local bodies and Panchayati Raj institutions is an important step towards making the electoral process simpler, more efficient and transparent. The initiative is expected to promote administrative continuity, optimise resources, reduce election‑related expenditure and facilitate faster implementation of development schemes.
The State Election Commission also urged ELC officials and young voters to share photographs and videos of electoral‑literacy activities on social media and tag the Commission’s official handles. A QR code containing links to the Commission’s social media platforms was shared with ELC officials and college principals.
SVEEP nodal officers from various districts, Chief Executive Officers of Zila Parishads, college principals and ELC officials participated in the video conference. The programme concluded with youth taking a pledge to become informed voters and active participants in the democratic process.
–IANS
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