National Voters' Day - India

 

The National Voters’ Day is celebrated every year in India on January 25 to encourage the country’s voters to participate in the electoral process. This year, it is the 14th edition which is being celebrated.

The first-ever National Voter's Day was celebrated on January 25, 2011, to encourage more young voters to take part in the electoral process where the Union Government, then led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Had approved a proposal to the law ministry to this effect. Former information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni at that time had pointed out that the new voters who had attained the age of 18 were showing less interest in getting enrolled in the electoral rolls.

To address this issue, the Election Commission decided to launch a nationwide effort to identify all eligible voters who reach the age of 18 on January 1, of each year, in all polling stations across India. Such voters would be enrolled and be given the Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) on January 25 every year.