Shillong, June 13: The Meghalaya Election Department has set a target to enroll atleast one lakh youth as voters in view of the upcoming Assembly election.
Speaking to reporters today after a meeting with representatives of different political parties, Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), F.R. Kharkongor said that a campaign called “Mission Unite” would be launched on July 1, and the enrolment drive will continue till July 31 in the whole state with special focus on enrolment of youth between 18 and 21 years. Similar campaign will be also launched in various districts.
Only representative of the Congress did not attend the meeting.
The CEO said that representatives of political parties have also assured to help the department in encouraging the youth especially non-students youth in rural areas to enroll as voters, besides working together with educational institutes and Dorbar Shnongs.
Under Mission Unite, the enrollment drive will be held in campuses of various educational institutes from July 8 to 22 to enroll students.
“We will have nodal teachers who will guide students in filling up of registration form as well as for seamless disposal of claims and objections. Around 11,000 registration forms have been distributed to various campuses. In Shillong city alone, we will reach out to students through 110 educational institutes. The district election officers are also enlisting the number of educational institutes in other districts,” Kharkongor said.
Kharkongor also said that East Khasi Hills district has the highest number of youth at 52,000, who have not enrolled as voters, while Nongkrem Assembly constituency has around 15,000 youth who have not enrolled themselves.
The CEO hoped that the total voters of Meghalaya in the upcoming Assembly election would increase from 17. 19 lakh to over 18 lakh.
