Vote Campaign: Prompting Urban Voters To Exercise Franchise

GUWAHATI: In a bid to create awareness among citizens about voting rights, IIT-Guwahati students have initiated a campaign that aims to enlighten citizens about their right to vote and how they can exercise their right during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The campaign - “Wake Up and Vote” - launched by the students of IIT-Guwahati in the city, is part of the institute’s annual techno-management festival Techniche.

Techniche has always stood out for its voluntary drive to improve the lives of people in innovative ways. This year, in collaboration with the Election Commission of Assam, the Techniche team launched a campaign to encourage this country’s population to Wake Up and Vote. The campaign is aimed at spreading awareness that voting builds a healthier nation and strengthens democracy.

The campaign was launched on January 26 during Republic Day Celebrations in IIT Guwahati, where a reassuringly large number of people kick started this journey by signing the pledge to vote in the upcoming General elections.

Techniche has since worked to exploit its online outreach by regular releases of campaign videos, photos, blogs and catchy snippets. It has also managed to get an impetus from various celebrities who supported the cause by recording clips of themselves, encouraging people to vote.

Wake Up and Vote is now transitioning into its final phase with the organisation of in-city campaigns to prompt urban voters of Guwahati city, employing street plays, flash mobs, signature and selfie campaigns in the malls to spread the message in a creative way.

“Techniche has taken up this cause multiple times in the past. The 2014 general elections and the 2016 Assam state elections witnessed an enthralling campaign that significantly impacted their respective turnouts. This year, we plan to raise the bar only further with renewed vigour and sincere efforts. We persist in our continued belief that the triumph of a democracy is in the number of people who are willing to be a part of it”, says Suraj Shelke, Convener of Techniche 2019.

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