The Election Commission of India (ECI) has reportedly been pushing for multiple cut-off dates for new voters to enrol in order to allow more eligible people to register as voters.
It is learnt that now plans are afoot to have four cut-off dates every year for people to enrol as voters by amending the electoral law. It will also ensure that more eligible youngsters become part of the electorate.
As of now for an election to be held in a particular year, only an individual who has attained the age of 18 years as on January 1 of that year or before is eligible to be enrolled in the voters’ list.
Hence a person attaining the age of 18 on January 2 cannot be registered and has to wait till next year in order to get registered as a voter. It is understood that the law ministry has proposed to make necessary amendments to the Representation of People Act in order to have four qualifying dates which are January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of every year.
Young people are well versed with the political development in their respective state and the country. They are now in a better position to take individual decisions when it comes to exercising one’s franchise.
Hence it is logical that more youth take part in the electoral process.
