Pathanamthitta: Pathanamthitta district has lagged behind the rest in the voting percentages during the previous Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
But this time the district administration is determined to make a difference by wooing the electorate through a ‘Vote and win’ programme in 100 booths out of the total 891 in the district.
The winners will get surprise gifts under the scheme introduced as part of Systematic Voters Education and Election Programme (SVEEP).
The district had registered only 68.22 per cent poll in the 2011 Assembly elections against the state average of 75.12 while in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, it had the lowest percentage of 65. 80.
According to district collector S. Harikishore, a three-point strategy has been planned this time to increase the polling percentage.
The booth-level officers will deliver letters from the collector to the voters, including over 5,000 men working in armed forces and 3,500 bedridden persons, inviting them to exercise their franchise.
The programme will cover over one lakh voters in booths where the polling was below 50 per cent during the previous elections. They will be given an acknowledgement card with a unique number. Lucky draws will be held using these numbers.
