Three things ECI can do to Encourage Youth Voter Registration

One of the things that keeps me busy these days is advocating better urban electoral processes with Election Commission of India (ECI).

In August 2009, Janaagraha came out with a report titled “Reforming Electoral Processes in Urban India”. I played a role in putting together the contents of this report. A few weeks back, I was at Nirvachan Sadan (ECI headquarters) to present this report to a few officials there.

Luckily, I got the opportunity to meet the current Chief Election Commissioner, Mr Navin Chawla. He congratulated me for Janaagraha’s work with Jaago Re! One Billion Votes campaign, and asked me a simple question:

Tell me 3 things ECI should do to encourage voter registration amongst the youth?

I am yet to get back with a response, but here are my thoughts:

• Talk directly to various Universities and make Voter Registration compulsory for college students when they turn 18
• Reach out directly to the youth – launch a national media campaign targeted at the youth, let the CEC / DECs / state CEOs directly go to college campuses to encourage the youth, start blogging on the ECI website
• Demystify and simplify the process of voter registration – a majority of the youth already have the motivation, it’s the process that lets them down

Please let me know what you think of the above suggestions, and your own ideas.