ECI Partners with Banks, Post Offices to Boost Voter Education Ahead of 2024 Elections

New Delhi: In preparation for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken significant steps to enhance voter education and outreach. The ECI signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and the Department of Posts (DoP) to bolster efforts in this regard.

The MoU signing ceremony, graced by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioner Arun Goel, marked a crucial collaboration aimed at increasing voter turnout. Notably, the 2019 general elections witnessed a commendable 67.4% voter participation, yet there remains room for improvement, with approximately 300 million eligible voters abstaining from casting their votes.

As part of the strategic initiative, the ECI plans to leverage the extensive networks of banks and post offices across the country. With over 1.6 lakh bank branches, 2 lakh ATMs, and 1.55 lakh post offices, these platforms offer a vast reach for disseminating electoral awareness messages.

Furthermore, the ECI’s partnership with the Ministry of Education underscores a concerted effort to integrate electoral literacy into the academic curriculum, thereby fostering informed citizenship from a young age.

Under the MoU, the IBA and DoP, along with their affiliates, will prominently display voter education content on their websites. Additionally, they will establish Voter Awareness Fora to facilitate discussions and initiatives on electoral education among employees and customers.

Banks will contribute to the campaign by displaying promotional material such as posters, flex, and hoardings, providing direct access points for election authorities to engage with voters. Meanwhile, the Department of Posts will introduce a special cancellation stamp bearing voter education messages on postal articles, further amplifying the outreach efforts.