Aizawl, 25 Jan (Zoram News): Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati graced celebration of the 13th National Voters’ Day today at the Assembly Conference Hall. The theme for this year’s National Voters’ Day is: ‘Nothing like voting, I vote for sure’.
The program commenced with a welcome speech from Dr.Lalhriatzuali Ralte, District Election Officer, Aizawl District. The song “Main Bharat Hoon” was then played. The next item was a screening of the message of Shri Rajiv Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner for the occasion. After this, the audiences were subscribed to the NVD Pledge by students from Mizo Higher Secondary School.
Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati first expressed his delight in participating as the chief guest on the 13th National Voters’ Day. He highlighted the unique election history of Mizoram along with some of its remarkable successes that are deemed worthy to be imitated by other states.
He acknowledged the active involvement of political parties as well as civil society organizations that he thought contributed greatly to the conduct of free and fair elections. He also shared his appreciation of the unique role played by the Mizoram People’s Forum (MPF) and the Young Mizo Association (YMA). He thanked all the District Election Officers and all the election machinery involved for the successful publication of Summary Revision of Photo Electoral Rolls on 13th January 2023, with reference to 01st January 2023 as the qualifying date.
Governor highlighted several special initiatives taken up by the ECI to facilitate the inclusion of those voters who face difficulties in registration or voting. He also elaborated on how the Commission has always paid special attention to the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) - many provisions such as ramps at the polling stations, out-of-turn voting and need-based companion for PwDs, engraving braille font on EVMs, braille ballot paper, and so on.
Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati also expressed his sincere appreciation to the Election Department of Mizoram for introducing and issuing Braille Epic Cards for Visually Impaired voters for the first time in the State. He hopes this initiative will ensure greater participation from PwD voters in exercising their franchise. He mentioned that Mizoram has a long tradition of peaceful elections, and he urged all stakeholders to ensure that this wonderful practice is maintained in the upcoming general elections to the Mizoram Legislative Assembly.
To conclude his address, Governor appealed to all the people of Mizoram to strive hard towards strengthening our democratic traditions by being actively involved in the electoral process. He suggested that one of the most critical ways that individuals can influence government decision-making is through voting. He also appealed to all the voters to avail the different technological tools provided by the Commission for ease of voting and to wholeheartedly participate in the electoral process.
As of now in Mizoram, the Election machinery has successfully conducted 12 Assembly and 11 Parliamentary elections over the years. Mizoram was the first State in India to use the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail or VVPAT on a large scale, in the 2013 Assembly election. At present, there are 8,42,388 voters in Mizoram, out of which 48.5% are male, and 51.5% are female. In the spirit of enhancing the maximum enrolment of eligible voters, the Election Commission of India, by making amendments to existing electoral laws, has introduced four qualifying dates for registration, i.e, 1st January, 1st April, 1st July and 1st October.
Earlier, people who turned 18 after the qualifying date of 1st January had to wait till the next year to register as a voter. However, this delay can now be avoided as eligible voters can submit an advance application for enrolment, and they will be formally registered once they turn 18. The Election Commission of India has taken several important steps in introducing IT and IT-enabled services to the election process, both in the registration and voting processes.
Improvement in general infrastructure and introduction of information and communication technologies have provided better amenities to voters with disabilities.
Pu H.Vanlalmawia, 7-Tuival (ST) AC, Pu Ramdinliana, 10-Aizawl North I (ST) AC, Pu RC Lalruatchhunga, 11-Aizawl North II (ST) AC, Pu Lallungmuana, 12 – Aizawl North III (ST) AC, Pu Lalrintluanga, 13 – Aizawl East I AC, Pu Joseph Vanlalhruaia Sailo, 14- Aizawl East II (ST) AC, Pu Zirkima, 15 – Aizawl West I (ST) AC, Pu R.Vanlalfaka, 16 – Aizawl West II (ST) AC, Pi K.Vansangpuii, 17 – Aizawl West (ST) III AC, Pu K.Chanchinmawia, 18 – Aizawl South I (ST) AC, Pu Lalfakzuala, 19 – Aizawl South III (ST) AC and Pu Lalchawimawia, 20 – Aizawl South III (ST) AC received the best performing BLO Awards from the Governor.
The program concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Pu David L Pachuau, Jt CEO, Mizoram.
𝑧𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠. 𝐶𝑜𝑚, 𝑧𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑚 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠, 𝑚𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑚 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠, 𝑚𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑚 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑝𝑒𝑟, 𝑚𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑚 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑟, 𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑚𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑚 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠, 𝑚𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑚 𝑏𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑡𝑜𝑑𝑎𝑦, 𝑚𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑚 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑙, 𝑚𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑚 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠, 𝑚𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑚 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑡𝑜𝑑𝑎𝑦, 𝑚𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑚 𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑜𝑦𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠, 𝑚𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑚 𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠, 𝑚𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑚 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ, 𝑚𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑚 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ, 𝑚𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑚 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑡𝑜𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑖𝑛 𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ, 𝑚𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑚 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑗𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙, 𝑚𝑖𝑧𝑜 𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑝, 𝑚𝑖𝑧𝑜 𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑜𝑠, 𝑚𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑚 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠, 𝑚𝑒𝑔ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑦𝑎 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠, 𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑚 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠, 𝑛𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠, 𝑠𝑖𝑘𝑘𝑖𝑚 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑝𝑢𝑟𝑎 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠.