Andhra Pradesh: Active Public Participation Key To Strong Democracy: SEC

Every vote has the power to shape the nation's future and should be treated as a constitutional right and a civic responsibility, he said.

Addressing an international workshop on voter eligibility organised jointly by the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management, the Election Commission, International IDEA and the state Chief Electoral Office in Vijayawada, Punetha said an informed voter capable of making sound decisions is the foundation of a strong democracy.

He recalled that voter turnout in several regions had once remained below 30 per cent but had improved steadily through “voter awareness campaigns.” Citing the recent West Bengal elections, he said polling had exceeded 92 per cent. He also emphasised the need to explore mechanisms that would enable citizens to vote without sacrificing their livelihoods or travelling to their native places, referring to Scandinavian countries as examples of high voter awareness.

Former state election commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar urged AP to lead the country not only alphabetically but also in voter turnout. Describing voting as both a right and a responsibility, he called upon youth to promote electoral awareness and appreciated district collectors for training Booth Level Officers effectively for the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Chief Electoral Officer Vivek Yadav said Andhra Pradesh had undertaken a field study on voter eligibility using a nine-step methodology in line with the Election Commission's directions and India's presidency of the International IDEA Council. He said the exercise aims to develop model standards for national and international adoption while ensuring transparent and error-free electoral rolls by enrolling every eligible citizen and removing ineligible entries.

Krishna district collector Balaji highlighted automatic voter registration, seamless transfer of registration and voluntary Aadhaar linkage as measures to strengthen electoral rolls. NTR collector Lakshmisha said voter registration is a constitutional responsibility that requires legal precision, a humane approach and evidence-based reforms.

Technical sessions on global voter eligibility standards, legal traditions and international best practices were also held.