PANAJI
In a novel concept, a social action group of the Christian community of Chorao island adopted ‘Strategic Voting’ approach during the recently concluded assembly elections.
According to Edwin Heredia of Lights of Chorao (LOC), the need for a ‘Strategic Voting’ approach was felt as Goa’s largest island of Chorao comprising 6,500 people suffered from most basic amenities since the last 15 years.
“Hence, the need for change was strongly felt at the 2022 assembly elections. Two weeks before elections, realising a potential opportunity for our community’s 1,200 votes (among 27,000 voters in Mayem constituency) to enable this change, we adopted ‘Strategic Voting’, common in first-world democracies.”
“This was implemented for the first time ever in Chorao to educate voters about their voting choices and that, instead of it being personal, their vote could be consciously cast towards a common greater good of our island and all its people,” said Heredia.
Lisa Dias-Noronha, a member of the LOC Core Team, said information was gathered on candidates like past election records, social media, news reports, nomination affidavits, manifestos, voting survey projections, etc. About 30 people from all Vaddos gathered for two discussion rounds to finalise one consensus choice.
“After the first three-hour session, two candidates were shortlisted. Next, we interviewed both candidates, gathered grassroot intel and met again. One candidate was finally chosen and all agreed to support the decision,” said Dias-Noronha.
“The entire process happened without the knowledge or influence of any political party. Word of mouth, door-to-door visits and our social-action WhatsApp group became the main channels to explain and request support for the consensus candidate.”
“On election day, travel for elderly voters was arranged, voting progress tracked and all encouraged to go vote. We believe 80-90% of our community in Chorao voted as per the consensus decision without seeking nor expecting any gains,” she added.
Another LOC member, Vincent Toscano, said the LOC is a social action group of the Christian community of Chorao island, which began during the first lockdown of the Covid pandemic in April 2020 to organise relief supply of medicines and groceries to the stranded community with active support from many community members, especially the youth.
“Besides providing a communications platform to connect our community, LOC has delivered a memorandum about the island’s major issues to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant during his Chorao visit on August 26, 2021, delivered a total of 115 meals to needy individuals and families during major and local church feasts and organised an island-wide Crib Competition to promote the good old Goan tradition.”
“Our key objective is to demonstrate our Christian faith in action, with aiding our needy brethren being our highest priority. Additionally, we intend to promote and enable our community in the field of sports, arts, education, technologies, livelihoods, culture, environmental matters and other aspects in order to make it a vibrant, productive and creative community,” Toscano added.
