National Voters' Day to Be Observed on Jan 25 amid SIR Drive in States
The SIR drive raised a storm when the Election Commission of India (ECI) started executing it before the Assembly elections in West Bengal
Hyderabad: Amid the controversy over carrying out Special Intensive Drive (SIR) in poll-bound States, the Central government is gearing up to celebrate National Voters' Day on January 25 across the country.
This year, the 16th National Voters' Day assumed significance because of the controversy behind the SIR implementation during Haryana, Maharashtra and Bihar Assembly elections. The drive raised a storm when the Election Commission of India (ECI) started executing it before the Assembly elections in West Bengal.
While observing it, several rallies and meetings would be conducted to highlight the importance of casting a vote during elections. The new voters, who have attained the age of 18 years, are showing less interest in getting enrolled in the electoral rolls and the level of their enrolment was as low as 20 to 25 per cent in certain cases.
Such eligible voters would be enrolled on time and handed over their Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) on January 25 every year. Since 2011, National Voters’ Day has been observed annually on January 25 to commemorate the foundation day of the ECI, established on January 25, 1950, a day before India became a Republic.
It aims to underline the centrality of the voter and raise electoral awareness among citizens and inspire their active participation in the democratic process.
Dedicated to the voters of the nation, National Voters' Day also promotes the enrolment of new voters, particularly young individuals who have recently become eligible. Across the country, new voters are honored and presented with their Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) during NVD ceremonies.
Celebrated at the level of national, state, district, constituency, and polling booth NVD stands as one of the country’s most widespread and significant celebrations.
The 15th National Voters’ Day (NVD) was celebrated across the country soon after the historic and successful conduct of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the largest democratic exercise in the world. The EC also celebrates 75 years of its dedicated service to the nation.
The electoral database now stands at 99.1 crore and counting. The electoral rolls bear a youthful and gender balanced look with 21.7 crores young electors, in the 18-29 age group and a 6-point increase in Electoral Gender Ratio from 948 in 2024 to 954 in 2025.
The ECI is taking up the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) is a multi-intervention programme that reaches out to educate citizens about the electoral process in order to increase awareness and participation. The objectives of SVEEP are to increase electoral participation through voter registration and turnout, to increase qualitative participation in terms of ethical and informed voting and continuous electoral and democracy education.
The law has been amended to provide four qualifying dates for enrolment in the electoral roll. Now any citizen turning 18 years on January 1, April 1, July 1 or October 1 can file his claim for enrolment in any quarter of the year.
Celebrated at the level of national, state, district, constituency, and polling booth National Voters Day stands as one of the country’s most widespread and significant celebrations.