Bhubaneswar, Aug. 6 (UDN): In a move to strengthen electoral awareness and encourage informed participation among young voters, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Odisha, has directed all District Election Officers (DEOs) to revive and expand Electoral Literacy Clubs (ELCs) across the state’s educational institutions.
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The initiative follows renewed emphasis by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on promoting democratic values, improving electoral literacy and countering misinformation, particularly among first-time and young voters.
Under the directive, district administrations have been asked to reactivate existing Electoral Literacy Clubs and establish new ones in eligible institutions, including government and private schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, Sainik Schools, colleges, universities and other higher educational institutions.
The programme will engage students from Classes IX to XII in schools and young adults in the 18–25 age group in colleges. Institutions have also been instructed to nominate nodal teachers or ELC coordinators and encourage the selection of student campus ambassadors to lead awareness activities.
As part of the campaign, clubs will organise programmes on constitutional values, democratic principles, voter registration, electoral roll revision, and the functioning of the Election Commission. Students will also be introduced to the working of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) systems through demonstrations and mock polling exercises.
To make the initiative more engaging, educational institutions have been encouraged to conduct debates, quizzes, essay competitions, awareness campaigns and discussions promoting ethical voting practices while addressing the growing challenge of fake news and misinformation.
The CEO’s office has also advised districts to leverage digital and social media platforms to expand the campaign’s reach and connect with young voters more effectively. Assembly constituency-level coordinators will monitor implementation, document best practices and ensure regular reporting.
District Election Officers have been instructed to accord priority to the programme and work closely with educational institutions for its effective execution. They have also been asked to submit reports on activities conducted during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) by August 19, along with updated details of active Electoral Literacy Clubs through the designated online monitoring system.
The initiative is expected to create greater electoral awareness among students and empower the next generation of voters with the knowledge needed to participate responsibly in the democratic process.