SVEEP Action Plan - Bihar

1

2015

BIH

AR

S

VE

EP

PLA

N

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER, BIHAR

Systematic Voters' Education & Electoral Practice (SVEEP) Plan

2

Table of the contents

Sr. No. Topics Page

No.

1. List of Abbreviations 3

2. Context and Background 1.0 Background 1.1 Reflection of voter turnout in Bihar Parliamentary election 1.2 Reflection of voter turnout in Assembly Elections in Bihar

5-9

3. 2.0. Electoral Profile of Bihar 11

4. 3.0 Situational Analysis 3.1. Gap Analysis 3.2. Comparative Electoral Roll Data as per Final Electoral Roll 3.3. Highlights of the Bihar’s Assembly and Parliamentary Elections Voter-turnout highlights

13-22

5 4.0 Key Communications Gaps 23-26

6 5.0 KABBP and Expenditure Sensitive Survey in Bihar 6.1 Effectively of SVEEP 7.0. Major KABBP Recommendations for Policy Level Interventions

27-47 48-58

59-63

7 8.0. Objective of the SVEEP 65-66

8 9.0 Audience Segmentations 67-69

9 10.0 SVEEP Strategy 11.0 360 Degree Approach 12.0 SVEEP Funding

71-78 79-82 83

10 13.0 Planning and Implementation 84-86

11 14.0 Outreach Material Development 87-90

12 15.0. Key SVEEP Activities to be undertaken in Bihar 91-98

13 16. Special Events and Innovative activities 99-108

14 17.0 Voters Facilitations Measures 17.1 Model Polling Station 17.2 Voters Slip Distribution

109-116

14 18.0 SVEEP Calendar 117-120

15 19.0 Monitoring and Review 121-122

16 Annexures 124-128

3

\

List of Abbreviations

1. AC : Assembly Constituency

2. BLO : Booth Level Officer

3. ECI : Election Commission of India

4. EPIC : Elector Photo Identity Card

5. EVM : Electronic Voting Machine

6. KABBP : Knowledge, Attitude, Behaviour, Belief and Practices

7. MLA : Member of Legislative Assembly

8. MP : Member of Parliament

9. SVEEP : : Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Practice

10. VFC : Voter Facilitation Centre

11. NFHS : National Family Health Survey

12. LS : Lok Sabha

13. IPC : Inter-Personal Communications

14. INGO’s : International Non Governmental organizations

Context &

Context & Background

4

Background

5

1.0. Context & Background

Voters’ participation in the democratic and electoral processes is integral to the successful running of any democracy and the very basis of wholesome democratic elections. Thus, it becomes an integral part of election management. In India, the constitutional mandate of the Election Commission of India (ECI) for ‘superintendence, direction and control’ of elections contains the high, built-in responsibility to have every eligible Indian on the Electoral Roll and get everyone on the Electoral Roll to exercise their democratic right of franchise. The election management processes in India have gone from strength to strength over decades and have responded ably to emerging challenges. Though voters’ participation in the electoral process in India is an acclaimed feat in India, there remains lot of gap between what the voters ‘should know ‘and what they ‘actually know’ in important areas like registration, EPIC/ identity proofs, Polling Station location, use of EVMs, timings of the poll, do’s & don’ts with regard to Model Code of Conduct, use of money/ muscle and liquor power, by candidates or their associates to influence vulnerable sections of electorate. These gaps exist because voters’ education had not received the requisite priority from election managers. The electoral process is one of the major unifying activities for Indian citizens. Election Day is the one day when everyone in India is EQUAL. India’s Constitution laid out the aspiration that every adult Indian, regardless of gender, formal education, socioeconomic status or location would have the right to vote and that every vote would count the same. To many, however it seemed to be an audacious aspiration, even impracticable in a country of our size, with limited physical infrastructure, with low levels of literacy and wide diversity. Democracy' as plainly understood is a rule of people that inevitably require people's

participation for its existence. It derives its strength from the 'will of people' that is best

expressed through their voting right. The spirit of democracy is deeply ingrained in ethos of

India from time immemorial and there are several religious and historical references to it.

The contemporary history of Democracy began at least two centuries ago after the French

revolution. New Zealand was the first country to adopt universal Adult Franchise in 1893.

Britain adopted it in 1928 and in US it was granted in 1965. India achieved independence in

1947 and adopted Democracy. After independence in 1947 India adopted Democratic

system of governance better known as Parliamentary Democracy. The constitution of India

bestows the voting right to every citizen above the age of eighteen years without any

discrimination on the basis of gender, caste, religion, culture and socio-political

consideration except those mentally unfit and disfranchised by the law.

Bihar being the birth place of first republic of the world, has always showed firm

commitment to democracy, rather guided it to its cause so many times. Being the 12th

largest states of India in terms of geographical area and 2nd in terms of population, Bihar

may be put at the lower strata for many reasons but it stands alone so far as political

activism is concerned. Election in Bihar has witnessed a fluctuating and decreasing trend

of voter turnout both in Parliamentary and State Assembly Elections held during the last

twenty years. The 12th General election that was held in 1998 recorded the highest voter

turnout of 64.06 % but the general elections that followed after could not maintain the

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rising trend of voter turnout and it came down to 44.4 % in general election that was held in

2009. Hence extra efforts were made to ensure that the eligible electors get enrolled and a

maximum number of these registered electors exercise their rights of franchise in General

Elections 2014. The overall SVEEP strategy in the state therefore was to counter challenges

that restrict the electoral participation in Bihar which resulted in a significant rise of 12.28%

in voter turnout. However, in spite of robust SVEEP activities during LS 2014 in Bihar (approx

44%) registered voters could not vote here due to variety of factors that may have

contributed.

Elections in India are one of the most challenging processes in the country’s democratic

tradition for the sheer scale, size, diversity, and complexity. The holding of free and fair

elections in India has always been a matter of pride and honor for ECI, apart from being a

constitutionally mandated duty. We have just achieved another milestone with the

successful conclusion of the 16th General Election to the Lok Sabha in which the

programme of Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) has again

had a demonstrative impact in terms of catalyzing all time high voter participation.

Voter turnout in any election is of immense relevance to the value or credibility that will be

attached to its outcome. Voting in elections by citizens is very much encouraged in all

democracies, as it is the basis of active citizenship. A high turnout is therefore seen as

higher participation in decision-making and a seal of approval or legitimacy. In view of the

fact that, voting is one of the most fundamental aspects of civic engagement, many

political scientists link voting with the health of the democratic process and argue that

declining voting rates may be symptomatic of a “democratic deficit”. Since political

participation can also influence public policy, others are concerned that lower

participation could result in policies that are not necessarily representative of key

constituencies, like those who tend to vote less. As a result, the voter turnout rate is used as

one of the indicators of civic engagement.

1.1 Reflection of voter turnout in Parliamentary Election (Graph 1)

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Bihar's participation in first General Election that was held during 1951-52 in terms of voter

turnout as is evident from the graph-1, speaks that it was around 40 per cent. It recorded its

highest 64.6 percent in 1998 General Election and then showed a decline in voter turnout

by 20.2 percent after introduction of EVMs in 2004 in General Election that held in 2009.

However, 2015 LS recorded 55.38 % which was an increase of 12%, compared to LS- 2009

1.2. Reflection of voter turnout in Assembly Elections in Bihar (Graph 2):

Bihar in terms of voter turnout has traditionally fared well in General Election than in

Assembly Elections. The highest voter turnout, as is evident from the graph -2 cited below

was recorded 62.6 percent in Assembly Election held in 2000. A sudden fall of nearly 15

percent in voter turnout was witnessed in Assembly Elections that held in 2000 and 2005.

The Assembly Election that held in 2010 in Bihar, though recorded a rise in voter turnout

compared to the elections of 2000 and 2005, it too cannot be called impressive.

The deteriorating trend of voter turnout in the backdrop of the changes and progress at

many fronts that Bihar has witnessed over a period of last twenty years and the welcome

initiatives introduced and administered by the Department of Election towards the

creation of an enabling voting environment presents a strange contradictory proposition.

Before the LS 204, the election department of Bihar commissioned a study "Baseline Survey

of KABBP" to understand factors that may have accounted for the low voter turnout and

strategies that need to be adopted to increase turnout. Based on which, the falling voter's

participation in Bihar could be attributed to many factors and is a subject of study. Each

State has a unique history, social, political and cultural setting based on which voter

participation has to be seen. Some of the factors that affect the trend / voter turnout are

as follows:

- The elector in Bihar faces sense of fear, intimidations and security mostly created by anti-social elements and candidates with criminal background. In past marginalized

39.7 40.6

47.0 51.5 52.8 52.8 50.5

57.3 56.3

62.0 61.8 62.6

46.6 45.9

52.7

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

1952 1957 1962 1967 1969 1972 1977 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 ( Feb )

2005 ( Oct )

2010

Graph 3: Voter Turnout (%) in Bihar Election (Vidhan Sabha) since 1952 to

2010

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communities have come under serious attack and intimidation preventing many from voting. So in conduct of elections in Bihar free, fair and peaceful polls have always assumed primacy. Steps to ensure these compromises participation at times. So a delicate balance has to be struck between both.

- Migration, a grim reality in the state, is increasingly disturbing poll patterns. It is observed that significant number of people in Bihar migrate primarily for livelihood opportunities and educational opportunities. Though these people have their names in the electoral roll of Bihar but most of them are unable to vote during elections as they are outside the State.

- In the electoral roll revision carried out in 2014, 38.7 lakh new voters were added (an increase of 6.5%). Further in the special enrollment camp organized on 9.3.2014 just before election announcement another 15.8 lakh new voters were added (a further increase of 2.5%). In total, 9% increase in the total voters took place, which is a very significant achievement in terms enrollment drive. But it is also a challenge to ensure that all these newly enrolled voters cast their vote.

- In Bihar, elections are a huge logistic exercise requiring large number of vehicles for transporting the police force, poll personnel, patrolling magistrate with EVMs, etc. As a result during elections almost all the commercial vehicles are requisitioned at the time of polls and almost no public transport is available for voters to commute on the day of polls. To add to this, as a tradition, in an effort to conduct free, fair and peaceful elections even private vehicles are not allowed to ply on the Election Day. This significantly affects the voter participation. In these elections, we have consciously tried to improve on this area.

- For decades the state have been affected by left wing extremism particularly in Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, Kaimur, Rohtas, Jamui, Munger and Banka. Left Wing Extremism (LWE) has affected the Lok Sabha seats such as Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur and Hajipur in the recent years.

- A significant number of electors in Bihar may not have participated due to inconvenience related to poor infrastructure and minimum facilities at polling stationssuch as improper roads, lack of public transportation, drinking waters, ramps for disabled shades and sitting arrangements, long queues etc

- Illiteracy and lack of awareness about the significance of vote also tend to decrease the electors participation in Bihar. The non-enrolment of the voters is due the lack of information and under-utilization of the existing information dissemination system.

- Apathy and Anger with the system especially among urban voters and youth could also be factor in cities. The trust in government and in politicians has decreased in many places due to criminalization of politics and increasing corruption in political class.

- Extreme climates such as hot weather, extreme cold and heavy rains might also have systematically affected electoral participation in Bihar.

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- Further, an analysis of district wise gender ratio before S 2014 suggested that in constituencies like Siwan, Saran, Gopalganj, Bhojpur, Aurangabad and Arwal district, the gender ratio gap is highest. These districts along with others needed a special attention on enrolment of eligible female electors.

- In certain cases lack of sensitivity about importance of each vote and casual attitude among electors may contribute to lower voter-turn out.

The Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) program by the

Election Commission of India (ECI) was launched in 2009 with the objective of enhancing

Electoral Participation in the country and building a culture of participative democracy.

The Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation division of the commission

formulates policies, lays down the framework, plans interventions and monitors

implementation besides carrying out continuous discourse with voting publics, civil society

groups and media. It handles work related to all aspects of Voters’ Awareness & Education

aimed towards improving Electoral Participation in the country and building up a culture of

participative democracy among citizens.

SVEEP is now central to our election management. It is completely owned across the

election machinery and constantly growing in strength. Since 2009, Election Commission of

India has moved forward towards enhancing qualitative participation in the electoral

process. SVEEP has emerged as a phenomenon in the arena of election management in

India. Its story needs to be told so that the path is pursued vigorously in the coming years to

fill the remaining gaps.

Electoral Profile of Bihar


10


2.0 Electoral Profile of Bihar

Bihar's

Electoral

Profile

Total Number of Districts

Number of Parliamentary Constituencies

Total Number of Assembly Constituencies

Total Number of Polling Stations

Total population of Bihar

Total Electors

Male Electors

Female Electors

Others Electors

EP Ratio

EPIC Coverage

Gender Ratio

Total Number of Districts 38

Number of Parliamentary Constituencies 40

Total Number of Assembly Constituencies 243

Total Number of Polling Stations 62779

Total population of Bihar 114190336 (projected)

65714801

35104436

30608109

2256

0.58

100%

872

Bihar’s Political Map

11

114190336 (projected)

65714801 (as per roll, 2015)

35104436

30608109

Situational Analysis

Situational Analysis

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3. Situational Analysis

The systematic assessment of current and previous electoral data is being carried out to guide the interventions. In addition to comparative studies of statistical and numeric data, a simultaneous evidence based analysis of socio-cultural and economic factors is done in order to have a clear understanding of reasons for non-participation. The assessment is being done based on population data, elector-population ratio, gender ratio on the Electoral Roll as against Census figures, EPIC coverage, age cohort, etc. Survey agencies have been engaged to carry out baseline and endline surveys to find the underlying reasons for under-registration, last mile problems in the updation of Electoral Rolls, EPIC off take and low voter turnout as well as to identify the demographics of the elector segments with lower electoral participation so that suitable interventions could be mounted and their impact assessed. The nomenclature of voters’ behavior survey is now commonly refered as survey of knowledge, attitude, behaviour, belief and practices (KABBP) of voters. SVEEP addresses gaps in two phases. The first slip takes place when eligible citizens fail to register and the second slip occurs when those who are registered fail to vote. So SVEEP is designed to address gaps in two phases: • the pre poll phase (registration of voters) and • the poll phase (turnout of voters to cast their vote) This includes gap analysis, also in the two phases of voter registration and voter turnout, by taking into account the various datasets. 3.1 Gap Analysis

Office of the Chief Electoral officer in Bihar uses certain statistical indicators and analyses for benchmarking the number of people who ought to be registered as electors. These are:

- Electoral Population (EP)

ratio

- Age Cohort Analysis

- Gender Ratio

- Types of Voters

Elector-Population Ratio

The EP Ratio is equal to the total number of registered electors divided by the total population of the State. As a reference this is compared to the Census projections of total population for the year of the analysis. In simple terms it refers to the proportion of the population of people who are 18 years of age and more in the total population. A very high EP ratio may indicate the presence of duplicate names in the Electoral Rolls while a very low EP ratio may point to the need to include missing but eligible persons as electors.

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Gender Ratio

In the Electoral Roll, the gender ratio refers to the number of female electors per 1000 male electors. The sex ratio is the ratio of males to the females in population and calculated as the number of females per 1000 males. It is a sort of socio-demographic pointer on the balance between men and women in the population.

Age Cohort Analysis

The electoral rolls are analyzed to get the number of electors in each age group (18 years-19 years; 20-29 years; 30-39 years and so on). These are then compared with the Census figures to identify which age groups require focus in terms of higher registrations and which require focus in terms of removing duplications or no longer valid entries. The annual analysis of every age group is done in cohorts of 10 years, but that of young and new electors is done in the age cohort of 18-19 years. This enables the election machinery to focus their efforts on enrolling this age group immediately on attaining eligibility. Types of Voters

All voters who actually cast their votes in PS are general voters, whereas armed forces personnel are service voters. Government staff drafted for election duty and service voters are given postal ballots to exercise their right to vote. There are also overseas electors i.e. those who are living outside India but have not taken citizenship of any other country. A deep insight into the voters’ behaviour patterns and other factors derived out of the situation analysis and KABBP surveys guides the development of the SVEEP strategy. Hence, based on the situation and gap analysis and understanding the type of voters, the SVEEP strategies are developed and utilised to overcome barriers to voter registration. Some of these are mental barriers, while some have to do with lack of relevant information or problems with the voter registration process and management. In addition, spreading awareness about informed, un-intimidating and inducement-free voting, under the broader framework of civic education, is an integral part of the approach. The overarching framework of the strategy for voter registration and participation named as IMF comprises of a plethora of systematic interventions to involve the people in the electoral process.

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3.2. Comparative Electoral Roll Data as per Final Electoral Roll w.r.t. 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015 along with

Census projections

Activity As per Final Roll,2012

As per Final Roll, 2013

As per Final Roll, 2014

As per Draft Roll, 2015

As per Final Roll 2015 (15-01-2015)

As per Draft Roll, 2015 (15.05.201)

As per Census

Projection,2015

Total

Electors

56764185 59222225 62108447 63462197 65793462 65714801 62081678

Male 30633835 31854578 33098022 33882087 35159484 35104436 32272894

Female 26129497 27366041 29008544 29578196 30631704 30608109 29808784

Third Gender 853 1606 1881 1914 2274 2256

18-19 Yrs. Age-

group electors in

electoral roll

1433832 1432326 1660667 2115356 M-1194561

F-920431

3091747 M-1809783 F-1281437

3141210 M-1832977 F-1308233

4049335

EP Ratio 0.54 0.54 0.56 0.56 0.58 0.58

Sex Ratio 853 859 877 873 871 872 918

Total Photos in the

roll

51943193 (91.51)

56721282 (95.78)

62076681 (99.95)

63425406 (99.94)

65756682 (99.94)

65677113 (99.94)

No. of electors

without Photo

4820139 2500943 31766 36791 36780 37688

Total EPICs in the

roll

50402648 (88.79)

52884279 (89.30)

56269336 (90.60)

63252650 (99.67)

62958490 (95.69)

65714801 (100)

No. of electors

without EPIC

6360684 6337946 5839111 209547 2834972 0

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3.3. Number of Electors as per Electoral Roll

Sl.

No.

Draft/ Published Roll Male Female Third

Gender

Total

1 2 3 4 5 6

1 Draft Electoral Roll 35104436 30608109 2556 65715101

2 Final Electoral Roll Published

on 31-07-2015

35646870 31177619 2169 66826658

3.4. Statistics of Addition, Deletion &Modification in previous Revision

Items As pre

Final

Roll, 2012

As pre

Final

Roll, 2013

As pre

Final

Roll, 2014

During

Continuous

updation

in

2014

As per Final Roll,2015

(15.01.2015)

No. of

Form 6

Lodged

2043534 3160835 4029974 1934639 3203255

No. of

Form 6

Accepted

1900414 3097711 3873113 1679950 3072400

No. of

Form 7

Lodged

697401 956752 925238 351959 751971

No. of

Form 7

Accepted

617955 890064 728507 326200 741135

3.5. Applications received during Claim/Objection Period and its disposal

Sl.No. Types of Form Received Accepted Rejected

1 2 3 4 5

1 Form 6 1795464 1697898 97566

2 Form 6 A 11 11 0

3 Form 7 617419 586041 31378

4 Form 8 735485 677768 57717

5 Form 8 A 58277 50743 7534

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3.6. Statistics of Activities undertaken during summary Revision, 2015 (15.01.2015)

No. of possible duplicates found by

software

3754648

No. of possible duplicates verified by BLO 3754648

No. of possible duplicates were actually

found

619473

No. of duplicates deleted 247789

No. of possible errors found by software 2845076

No. of possible errors verified by BLO 2845076

No. of errors were actually found 1235666

No. of errors corrected 1235666

3.5. Bihar’s Assembly and Parliamentary Elections Voter-turn out highlights

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19

Graph - Increase in women turnout in post SVEEP

Assembly elections in Bihar

Graph- Comparative pre and post SVEEP total

voter-turnout % in Bihar

Graph- Comparative pre and post SVEEP total voter turnout (%)in Bihar

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21

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Bihar's Comparative chart of Voters' Turnout of Lok Sabha General Election 2009, 2010 &

2014

SL.

No.

Name of

District

Lok Sabha General Election,

2009

Bihar Assembly General

Election, 2010

Lok Sabha General Election,

2014

Male

turnout

Female

turnout

Total

turnout

Male

turnout

Female

turnout

Total

turnout

Male

turnout

Female

turnout

Total

turnout

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

1 West Champaran

48.68 41.68 45.46 57.44 59.32 58.30 62.54 62.85 60.59

2 East Champaran

46.04 37.69 42.19 53.70 55.10 54.34 57.45 57.70 56.61

3 Sheohar 46.50 43.61 45.15 48.46 56.10 51.98 53.20 58.97 56.08

4 Sitamarhi 44.34 41.81 43.16 43.87 53.85 48.36 53.76 60.22 56.68

5 Madhubani 40.36 43.14 41.65 44.17 53.88 48.65 49.87 60.03 54.42

6 Supaul 52.10 57.21 54.52 55.53 65.24 60.13 58.72 69.17 62.58

7 Araria 56.18 55.18 55.71 57.53 63.39 60.30 58.36 64.88 60.44

8 Kishanganj 54.92 50.53 52.84 57.06 61.07 58.95 63.08 66.97 63.89

9 Purnea 54.37 52.91 53.68 58.23 62.43 60.21 60.28 66.40 62.26

10 Katihar 56.00 57.15 56.54 61.00 63.75 62.29 64.77 70.75 67.92

11 Madhepura 50.32 52.15 51.19 55.85 63.50 59.45 57.92 66.96 60.76

12 Saharsa 48.68 49.83 49.23 50.61 55.15 52.75 54.85 60.38 56.24

13 Darbhanga 40.58 43.31 41.84 42.23 53.84 47.58 49.74 60.17 53.11

14 Muzaffarpur 49.84 44.75 47.48 54.27 60.81 57.30 59.24 63.32 60.02

15 Gopalganj 38.08 36.61 37.40 48.78 58.21 53.17 51.41 57.16 53.56

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16 Siwan 46.81 51.37 48.91 46.70 56.75 51.36 52.03 60.32 54.49

17 Saran 44.98 46.68 45.77 45.91 52.78 49.08 51.37 56.63 52.52

18 Vaishali 43.99 42.40 43.25 49.62 58.39 53.61 52.99 56.90 54.57

19 Samastipur 44.48 46.40 45.37 50.87 58.02 54.21 56.29 63.63 58.55

20 Begusarai 47.29 50.39 48.74 51.51 60.83 55.85 57.59 64.23 59.12

21 Khagaria 45.55 47.65 46.54 53.50 61.44 57.20 57.27 64.26 59.06

22 Bhagalpur 46.93 41.95 44.64 50.56 48.59 49.65 57.64 56.63 56.48

23 Banka 49.41 47.98 48.74 48.55 50.25 49.34 56.78 62.23 58.69

24 Munger 43.82 36.63 40.51 47.82 45.87 46.94 52.32 51.19 50.97

25 Lakhisarai 45.36 37.23 41.64 48.37 48.29 48.33 54.98 53.08 52.34

26 Sheikhpura 41.14 38.24 39.80 50.73 50.46 50.60 53.39 52.72 52.22

27 Nalanda 36.49 29.11 33.04 49.04 47.95 48.54 48.65 45.80 47.01

28 Patna 42.21 32.53 37.80 51.21 45.32 48.54 53.98 47.66 50.53

29 Bhojpur 40.47 30.03 35.77 51.56 49.20 50.51 51.24 45.84 48.25

30 Buxar 50.76 41.38 46.50 54.77 50.79 52.93 56.59 52.27 54.00

31 Kaimur (Bhabhua)

48.47 37.96 43.61 59.66 57.65 58.73 58.16 55.22 56.04

32 Rohtas 48.04 36.57 42.75 55.13 49.27 52.45 52.60 44.74 48.34

33 Arwal 51.03 42.23 46.92 49.12 45.88 47.65 54.56 50.45 52.10

34 Jahanabad 51.03 42.23 46.92 51.01 48.41 49.80 58.24 56.05 59.79

35 Aurangabad 47.79 36.39 42.53 52.27 48.42 50.51 50.97 46.51 50.01

36 Gaya 47.72 38.17 43.26 52.03 52.27 52.14 55.57 51.68 52.42

37 Nawada 41.84 41.35 41.62 44.66 46.24 45.40 53.11 50.69 51.51

38 Jamui 40.50 35.38 38.12 49.57 49.39 49.49 50.52 49.52 48.15

State Total 46.06 42.62 44.46 51.11 54.44 52.65 55.10 57.44 55.38

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Key Communications Gaps

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4.0. Key Communications Gaps

The office of the CEO in Bihar had commissioned a study of Baseline Survey of Knowledge, Attitude, Behavior, Belief and Practice with a broad objective to identify the expenditure sensitive constituencies of Bihar and to map the driving factors responsible for the voter turnout and also to identify the reasons acting behind the low and high voter turnout during recently held general and assembly elections have witnessed. Findings of the study and discussions with key stakeholders suggest some communications gaps that in exists the state. Some of them highlighted as follows:-

• Lack of a decentralized Information, Motivation and Facilitations( IMF) planning at the Panchayat, block and district levels

• Lack of socio-culturally driven communications approaches and

communications material. Cultural barriers are rampant and require counselling and consultation.

• Excessive focus on electronic mass media targeted primarily at awareness

• Barriers in the smooth enrollment of citizens and citizens would like services to

reach out to them. Broad awareness does not lead to behavior change for registration or voting.

• In certain areas, the awareness need to be linked to freedom from fear and

intimidation, supported by police administration.

• Inspirational personalities are effective motivators; more so when they are from the same region.

• Inducement and bribe-free voting now need much higher attention considering

the magnitude of the problem.

• SVEEP has worked in all types of settings, though differentially: North-South, East-West, North East, urban-rural, insurgency affected-peaceful, and irrespective of low turnout or high turnout past.

• SVEEP is sensitively dependent on leadership and ownership at the level of SVEEP

nodal officer and the DEOs; where it was higher, the results have been better.

• SVEEP needs a persistent follow up as it is yet to acquire a mandatory character for election managers While mass media generates the enabling environment, actual electoral participation behaviours comes through contact, persuasion, counseling etc. Moreover, supply side measures are extremely important, hence the ‘F’ in IMF i.e. Facilitation needs to be made stronger all the time

Further, literature review indicates that the exposure level of mass media in urban areas

is much higher than in rural areas. According to NFHS-3 (2005-06), more than 80 percent

26

of men and women in urban areas are exposed to some form of mass media. In India,

women are less likely than men to be regularly exposed to any media. The KABBP study

conducted by A.N Sinha Institute before LS 2014, provided some inputs were useful in

determining the strategic intervention to enhance the voter’s turnout in the LS 2014

elections. The study was relevant to address the grave concern of the Election

Department caused due to the depressing trend of Voters’ participation in elections.

Study highlighted that the high participation by voters in elections do give an

encouraging sign in a democratic polity. But a decreasing trend rings alarm bell for

democracy. Larger the participation of people in voting, better it is for a vibrant

democracy. In this context the study undertaken by the institute is an opportunity for all

the stakeholders to analyze the situation and strengthen the implementation of SVEEP

plans for the upcoming 2015 assembly elections in Bihar.

Therefore role of mass media needs to be redefined given the limited reach and comparative advantage of mid media, traditional media and IPC in the rural Bihar on the one hand and the increasing emergence of alternate media such as mobile phones and VCD players on the other. The campaign need to extend the reach of the mid- media (rallies, publicity vans hoardings, billboards, street theatre, wall paintings) through tapping the numerous local artists and celebrity/ cable networks) and using electronic equipment like DVD/VCD/ mikes at the block and village levels. Innovative use of “short films/CD Spots", portable VCD players, SMS campaigns may be suggested to extend the reach of electronic mass media channels among beneficiaries. Hence, the SVEEP strategy needs to shifts the emphasis from awareness to action. The focal point of SVEEP campaign strategy development is analyzing barriers to behavior and behavior change. Extensive evidence based behavioral barriers analysis for greater electoral participations to be undertaken. Based on this analysis, modified SVEEP log frames will be prepared to address key barriers and promote electoral participations to increase voters turn-out.

27

GAPS TO BE FILLED

Excluded communities Gender gap still sizeable in many constituencies Youth disconnect Urban Apathy Service Voters low participation Migrant voters CSO and Private Media energy still untapped

28

KABBP Survey

29

5.0 Sample survey of KABBP and Expenditure Sensitive Constituencies in Bihar

The study of voter turnout rates, its composition, characteristics, Knowledge, Attitude, Behavior, Beliefs and Practices (KABBP) is an integral part of SVEEP Plan and effective election management. The office of the Chief Electoral officer in Bihar engaged Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna (CIMP) to undertake this study with an objective to understand the extent and level of the knowledge, belief, perception, readiness, trends, factors and reasons of participation or non-participation of the registered voters in the elections and voting process. For this particular survey, a total of 243 assembly constituencies from all the 38 districts

were considered for sample selection. From this population, 25 assembly constituencies

(10% of the population) from 11 districts were selected. Assembly constituencies where

voting has been more than 55% in the last general elections were considered to be

high turnout category. Those, where the voting was less than 55%, were considered as

low turnout category. Among the assembly constituencies with low voting, 7

constituencies were selected at random for this survey. To understand the reasons

behind high voter turnout, 6 assembly constituencies were also chosen at random. In all

these 25 sampled constituencies, 4 polling stations/booths were selected randomly.

However, care was taken that at least two booths out of four were the ones having low

voter turnout. The other two were booths with high voter turnout. This was done to

develop an insight about the factors, practices, beliefs, etc. that lead to high and low

voting.

Major Findings from the KABBP Survey in Bihar

5.1 Voting in 2010 Assembly Elections

Out of the 4,523 survey respondents, 91.4% reported that they had cast their vote

during 2010 Assembly elections. The voting percentage was predictably lower in urban

areas (86.1%) than in rural areas (92.7%).

Table 5.1.1: Participation in 2010 Assembly Elections

Response Rural Urban Total

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Yes 3354 92.7% 780 86.1% 4134 91.4%

No 263 7.3% 126 13.9% 389 8.6%

Grand Total 3617 100.0% 906 100.0% 4523 100.0%

Figure 5.1.1:

5.2 Voting in 2014 Parliament Elections

Out of the 4,523 survey respondents,

during 2014 Parliament elections. Both rural (

participated in high numbers during these general elections.

Table 5.2.1: Participation in 2014 Parliament Elections

Response Rural

Number

Yes 3432

No 185

Grand Total 3617

Male

91.2%

Participation in 2010 Assembly Elections

Figure 5.1.1: Participation in 2010 Assembly Elections

Voting in 2014 Parliament Elections

Out of the 4,523 survey respondents, 94.6% reported that they had

during 2014 Parliament elections. Both rural (94.9%) and urban (

participated in high numbers during these general elections.

Table 5.2.1: Participation in 2014 Parliament Elections

Rural Urban Total


3432 94.9% 849 93.7% 4281

185 5.1% 57 6.3% 242

3617 100.0% 906 100.0% 4523

Female

91.9%

8.8% 8.1%

Participation in 2010 Assembly Elections

Yes No

30

reported that they had cast their vote

) and urban (93.7%) voters

Total

Percent

94.6%

5.4%

100.0%

Figure 5.2.1: Participation in 2014 Parliament Elections

5.3 Reasons for not voting during previous

When asked about the reasons for not casting their vote in the last general elections

from 556 respondents who didn’t vote in last general elections, most such respondents

(27.5%) reported that they were not in their constituency on

also corresponds to our earlier finding of high out

employment to other regions in India.

have EPIC card (1.9% of total sample of

people (1.8% of total sample of

the electoral roll. A significant chunk of respondents (

that nothing will change even if they voted.

About 5.2% respondents reported that they did not get voter slip even on the day of

polling and hence could not vote. This clearly shows the apathy by local BLOs (Booth

Level Officers). Some respondents (

booth from their place of residence as a hurdle in going out to vote. Few respondents

(2.7%) cited long queues at polling booths as a reason for not casting their votes.

Some other reasons for low voting reported during the survey were illness, being

physically handicapped, inaccessibility of the polling booth (due to a water body in the

Male

94.4%

Participation in 2014 Parliament Elections

Figure 5.2.1: Participation in 2014 Parliament Elections

Reasons for not voting during previous elections (2010 / 2014)


respondents who didn’t vote in last general elections, most such respondents

) reported that they were not in their constituency on the day of voting. This result

also corresponds to our earlier finding of high out-migration of people for seasonal

employment to other regions in India. 15.5% respondents reported that they didn’t

of total sample of 4523) and hence didn’t vote while

of total sample of 4523) reported that their names were not registered in

the electoral roll. A significant chunk of respondents (17.4%) didn’t vote as they thought

that nothing will change even if they voted.

respondents reported that they did not get voter slip even on the day of


Level Officers). Some respondents (3.2%) also pointed out the distance of the polling

their place of residence as a hurdle in going out to vote. Few respondents

) cited long queues at polling booths as a reason for not casting their votes.


capped, inaccessibility of the polling booth (due to a water body in the

Female

95.4%

5.6% 4.6%

Participation in 2014 Parliament Elections

Yes No

31


respondents who didn’t vote in last general elections, most such respondents

the day of voting. This result

migration of people for seasonal

respondents reported that they didn’t

idn’t vote while 14.6%

) reported that their names were not registered in

) didn’t vote as they thought

respondents reported that they did not get voter slip even on the day of


) also pointed out the distance of the polling

their place of residence as a hurdle in going out to vote. Few respondents

) cited long queues at polling booths as a reason for not casting their votes.


capped, inaccessibility of the polling booth (due to a water body in the

32

way or bad road conditions leading to the polling booth), no good candidates in the

poll fray, anger / frustration with the previous Government, lack of development work,

no direct profit from voting etc.

Table 5.3.1: Reasons for not Voting in Elections

Sl.

No. Response

Male

(N=423)

Female

(N=133)

Grand Total

(N=556)

Num

ber

Perc

ent

Num

ber

Perc

ent

Num

ber

Perc

ent

1 I did not have electoral photo ID Card 61 14.4 25 18.8 86 15.5

2 I did not know my polling station 4 0.9 2 1.5 6 1.1

3 Polling station was at distance 10 2.4 8 6.0 18 3.2

4 Long queue and I did not have time 10 2.4 5 3.8 15 2.7

5 No faith in political system 6 1.4 0 0.0 6 1.1

6 Did not vote as community or religious

leader said so

2 0.5 0 0.0 2 0.4

7 Head of family said not to vote 1 0.2 1 0.8 2 0.4

8 Voting is not essential for maintenance

of democracy

1 0.2 0 0.0 1 0.2

9 There was no good candidate 14 3.3 3 2.3 17 3.1

10 Candidate was not of my choice or

community

17 4.0 4 3.0 21 3.8

11 I just did not want to vote as nothing will

change

74 17.5 23 17.3 97 17.4

12 I was not in my constituency 133 31.4 20 15.0 153 27.5

13 I did not get voter slip even on polling

day at the booth

19 4.5 10 7.5 29 5.2

14 I was afraid/felt insecure to go to the

polling station

4 0.9 1 0.8 5 0.9

15 My name was not on electoral roll 58 13.7 23 17.3 81 14.6

33

16 Influence by local powerful person in

the locality or community

0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0

17 Any Other* 44 10.4 9 6.8 53 9.5

18 No Response 91 21.5 36 27.1 127 22.8

Figure 5.3.1: Reasons for not Voting in Elections

5.4 Assessment of reasons for voting during previous elections (2010 / 2014)

Elections are of utmost importance in any democratic country. As we all know,

democracy is defined as a government of the people, for the people and by the

people. In India, which is the largest democracy in the world in terms of vastness and

population, the Election Commission runs multiple campaigns to motivate voters to cast

their votes.

0.0%

0.2%

0.4%

0.4%

0.9%

1.1%

1.1%

2.7%

3.1%

3.2%

3.8%

5.2%

9.5%

14.6%

15.5%

17.4%

22.8%

27.5%

Influence by local powerful person in the locality or …

Voting is not essential for maintenance of democracy

Did not vote as community or religious leader said so

Head of family said not to vote

I was afraid/felt insecure to go to the polling station

I did not know my polling station

No faith in political system

Long queue and I did not have time

There was no good candidate

Polling station was at distance

Candidate was not of my choice or community

I did not get voter slip even on polling day at the booth

Any Other

My name was not on electoral roll

I did not have electoral photo ID Card

I just did not want to vote as nothing will change

No Response

I was not in my constituency

Reasons for not Voting in Elections (n=556)

34

This study has done an assessment of different reasons behind voter participation in

previous elections (2010 / 2014). After establishing a conversation channel, the field

researchers of this study assessed the main reasons of voter participation in previous

elections. The respondents were free to specify multiple reasons for their motivation

behind voting. As it can be seen from the Table given below, the main reason was

awareness of the voters about their voting rights (64% respondents have specified this

reason). About 35% respondents reported that they participated in the voting because

the candidate was good. Receiving the voter slip before polling day is also an

important reason as more than 33% voters have reported this factor behind their

participation. Sympathizing with a particular political party (20.9%) and enabling

environment (free and fair) created by Election Commission (15.5%) were also

significant reasons for voters’ participation in previous elections in Bihar.

Many other respondents voted because they were really happy with the development

of village and were interested in choosing a good government for security of village

and society. The influence of other villagers, family members and friends was also

reported by few respondents. Few others had a notion that voting is beneficial and

after participation, they can get some benefits from the Government schemes.

Table 5.4.1: Reasons for voting during previous elections (2010 / 2014)

Sl.

No. Response

Male (N=3236) Female

(N=1212) Total (N=4448)

Numb

er

Perce

nt

Numb

er

Perce

nt

Numb

er

Perce

nt

1 I am a political party sympathizer 730 22.6 198 16.3 928 20.9

2 Casted vote due to threat or coercion

44 1.4 25 2.1 69 1.6

3 Head of family said to vote 182 5.6 334 27.6 516 11.6

4 Influenced by friends 350 10.8 139 11.5 489 11.0

5 Wanted to defeat a particular candidate and/or a political party

297 9.2 80 6.6 377 8.5

6 It was my duty/right 2140 66.1 707 58.3 2847 64.0

7 Because of repeated appeal and advertisement by Election Commission

388 12.0 109 9.0 497 11.2

8 Because of enabling environment (free and Fair) created by Election Commission

568 17.6 123 10.1 691 15.5

9 NGO / Political party workers 20 0.6 7 0.6 27 0.6

35

motivated me

10 I got my voter slip 1052 32.5 504 41.6 1556 35.0

11 Candidate was good 1114 34.4 382 31.5 1496 33.6

12 Candidate was of my choice and from community and religion

334 10.3 84 6.9 418 9.4

13 Candidate visited me personally 273 8.4 80 6.6 353 7.9

14 Money / Liquor or some other thing was offered or promised to offer

9 0.3 0.0 9 0.2

15 Any Other 258 8.0 118 9.7 376 8.5

16 NR 78 2.4 11 0.9 89 2.0

Figure 5.4.1: Reasons for voting during previous elections (2010 / 2014)

5.5 Assessment of voters’ awareness about day and date of Election Polls

This study has also tried to evaluate the awareness of the participants about the

election polling date from different sources and mediums. This will reveal the

effectiveness of different medium and sources for creating awareness about polling

date and for motivating different voters. As we can see from Table given below that

0.2%

0.6%

1.6%

2.0%

7.9%

8.5%

8.5%

9.4%

11.0%

11.2%

11.6%

15.5%

20.9%

33.6%

35.0%

64.0%

Money / Liquor or some other thing was offered or …

NGO / Political party workers motivated me

Casted vote due to threat or coercion

NR

Candidate visited me personally

Wanted to defeat a particular candidate and/or a …

Any Other

Candidate was of my choice and from community …

Influenced by friends

Because of repeated appeal and advertisement by …

Head of family said to vote

Because of enabling environment (free and Fair) …

I am a political party sympathizer

Candidate was good

I got my voter slip

It was my duty/right

Reason for Voting in Elections

36

different campaigns by political parties were more efficient to communicate to voters

and create awareness among voters for polling date. About 48.4% respondents have

specified that they came to know about polling date by different campaigns by

political parties. Further, 39.7% respondents have reported that newspaper was the

source while 36.7% respondents have reported that their booth level officer has

informed them the election voting date. The Doordarshan and All India Radio are also

important sources of information as about 32.3% and 33.6% respondents respectively

have reported about getting the polling date information from these sources. The other

sources to convey the polling date related information were voting slip (24.2%) and

Hoarding / Posters (21.2%). The sources like Cable TV, Cinema Theatres, Jeevika workers,

Election Songs, Gram Panchayat etc, are reported by less than 10% of the respondents.

Few voters have specified that they were informed by their family member, friends,

neighbour, school teacher, ward member, party worker or other delegates from

political party.

Table 5.5.1: Assessment of voters’ awareness about day and date of Election Polls

Sl. No. Response Male (N=3287) Female (N=1236) Total (N=4523)


1 Doordarshan 1127 34.3 334 27.0 1461 32.3

2 Newspaper 1503 45.7 292 23.6 1795 39.7

3 All India Radio 1228 37.4 292 23.6 1520 33.6

4 Voter Slip 770 23.4 324 26.2 1094 24.2

5 Cable TV 264 8.0 97 7.8 361 8.0

6 District Collector’s Office 101 3.1 18 1.5 119 2.6

7 Booth Level Officers 1152 35.0 508 41.1 1660 36.7

8 Hoarding / Posters 706 21.5 252 20.4 958 21.2

9 Cinema Theatres 8 0.2 4 0.3 12 0.3

10 Election Songs 312 9.5 144 11.7 456 10.1

11 ASHA / Anganwadi / ANM workers 45 1.4 70 5.7 115 2.5

12 Jeevika workers 19 0.6 7 0.6 26 0.6

13 Gram Panchayat 225 6.8 64 5.2 289 6.4

14 Campaign by political party 1604 48.8 584 47.2 2188 48.4

15 Any other 229 7.0 210 17.0 439 9.7

16 NR 36 1.1 14 1.1 50 1.1

37

Figure 5.5.1: Assessment of voters’ awareness about day and date of Election Polls

5.6 Assessment of motivating factors for selecting particular candidate during last

elections

This study has further tried to assess the motivating factors behind the selection of a

particular candidate by the voters. As we can see from the Table given below that

candidate’s honesty and commitment stands the most prominent reason for selecting

a candidate as more than 57% respondents have reported this factor. The second

reason specified by the respondents is political party (30.3%). The other factors were

having very less impact like personally known candidate (1.6%), candidate’s religion /

caste (2.3%) etc.

Few respondents reported that they had selected candidates based on suggestions

from their family members, Village Sarpanch, other villagers, Village Mukhiya, Ward

member etc. Few others have reported that they made their choice to bring some

change or for development.

0.3%

0.6%

1.1%

2.5%

2.6%

6.4%

8.0%

9.7%

10.1%

21.2%

24.2%

32.3%

33.6%

36.7%

39.7%

48.4%

Cinema Theatres

Jeevika workers

NR

ASHA / Anganwadi / ANM workers

District Collector’s Office

Gram Panchayat

Cable TV

Any other

Election Songs

Hoarding / Posters

Voter Slip

Doordarshan

All India Radio

Booth Level Officers

Newspaper

Campaign by political party

Source of knowledge about the voting date

Table 5.6.1: Assessment of motivating factors for selecting particular candidate

Response

Personally known

Political Party

Candidate’s Honesty/ Commitment

Candidate’s Religion / Caste

Any other

NR

Grand Total

Figure 5.6.1: Assessment of motivating factors for selecting particular candidate

Personally known

Political Party

1.7%

30.1%

1.2%

30.8%

What motivated your choice of the candidate during last elections


Male Female

Numb

er

Perce

nt

Numb

er

Perce

nt

Numb

56 1.7% 15 1.2%

990 30.1% 381 30.8%

1979 60.2% 635 51.4%

61 1.9% 43 3.5%

108 3.3% 136 11.0%

93 2.8% 26 2.1%

3287

100.0

% 1236

100.0

%


Candidate’s Honesty/

Commitment

Candidate’s Religion / Caste

Any other

60.2%

1.9%3.3%

51.4%

3.5%

11.0%


Male Female

38


Total

Numb

er

Perce

nt

71 1.6%

1371 30.3%

2614 57.8%

104 2.3%

244 5.4%

119 2.6%

4523

100.0

%


NR

2.8%2.1%


39

5.7 Assessment of voting pattern in the household of respondents

To assess the voting participation in the family of the respondents, this study evaluated

the number of eligible voters in their household who have not voted in the last elections.

As we can see from the below Table, 36.3% respondents have reported that one or

more eligible voter have not voted in the last elections.

Table 5.7.1: Voting pattern in the household of respondents

Response Male Female Total


Yes 1245 37.9% 397 32.1% 1642 36.3%

No 2042 62.1% 839 67.9% 2881 63.7%

Grand Total 3287 100.0% 1236 100.0% 4523 100.0%

When the assessment of the reasons for not voting by eligible voters in the respondent’s

family was done, we identified multiple reasons. More than 51% respondents reported

that the voters in their family were not in town. This result is consistent with the previous

findings that migration is one of the main reasons behind lower participation in the

elections. About 26.4% respondents reported that the eligible voters were not having

electoral photo ID card while 20.3% reported that their names were not listed on the

electoral roll. Few of the respondents (7.9%) reported that the eligible voters did not

participated in voting because they believe that nothing will change even after the

elections. Transportation/ logistic problem was also reported by 5.5% respondents and

5.1% reported that the eligible voters of their family did not get voter slip even on polling

day at the booth. Also, 3.5% respondents reported that the eligible voters in their family

were unaware about the location of the polling booth. Some other reasons reported in

this study were: long queue at polling booth, influence of community leaders or head of

family, particular caste/community dominance and lacking of a good candidate etc.

Figure 5.7.1: Voting pattern in the household of

When some open ended questions were asked about reasons for not voting by eligible

voters in their family, many respondents reported that they were on election duty

somewhere else, were sick or due to sickness of some other family member they

not able to vote.

Table 5.7.2: Reasons for not voting by eligible voters in the family respondents

Sl.

No

.

Response

1 S/he did not have electoral photo ID Card

2 S/he did not know the polling station

3 Polling station was at distance (S/he had transportation logistic problem

4 Long queue and S/he did not have time

Male

37.9%

62.1%

Family members eligible for voting who have not voted

Figure 5.7.1: Voting pattern in the household of respondents



somewhere else, were sick or due to sickness of some other family member they



(N=397)

Numb

er

Perce

nt

Numb

er

Perce

nt

S/he did not have electoral photo 316 25.4% 118 29.7%

S/he did not know the polling 38 3.1% 20 5.0%

Polling station was at distance (S/he had transportation logistic 63 5.1% 27 6.8%

Long queue and S/he did not 19 1.5% 16 4.0%

Female

32.1%

62.1%67.9%

Family members eligible for voting who have not voted

Yes No

40

respondents



somewhere else, were sick or due to sickness of some other family member they were


Total (N=1642)

Numb

er

Perce

nt

434 26.4%

58 3.5%

90 5.5%

35 2.1%

41

5 No faith in political system (or electoral democracy)

8 0.6% 4 1.0% 12 0.7%

6 Did not vote as community or religious leader said so

1 0.1%

0.0% 1 0.1%

7 Head of family said not to vote 7 0.6% 3 0.8% 10 0.6%

8 Voting is not essential for maintenance of democracy

6 0.5% 1 0.3% 7 0.4%

9 There was no good candidate 22 1.8% 9 2.3% 31 1.9%

10 Particular caste/community dominance in that area

17 1.4% 3 0.8% 20 1.2%

11 S/he just did not want to vote as nothing will change

105 8.4% 24 6.0% 129 7.9%

12 S/he was not in his/her constituency

665 53.4% 178 44.8% 843 51.3%

13 S/he did not get voter slip even on polling day at the booth

57 4.6% 27 6.8% 84 5.1%

14 S/he was afraid/felt insecure to go to the polling station

6 0.5% 2 0.5% 8 0.5%

15 His/her name was not on electoral roll

236 19.0% 98 24.7% 334 20.3%

16 Any Other 58 4.7% 16 4.0% 74 4.5%

17 NR 34 2.7% 10 2.5% 44 2.7%

Figure 5.7.2: Reasons for not voting by eligible voters in the family respondents

0.1%

0.4%

0.5%

0.6%

0.7%

1.2%

1.9%

2.1%

2.7%

3.5%

4.5%

5.1%

5.5%

7.9%

20.3%

26.4%

51.3%

Did not vote as community or religious leader said so

Voting is not essential for maintenance of democracy

S/he was afraid/felt insecure to go to the polling station

Head of family said not to vote

No faith in political system (or electoral democracy)

Particular caste/community dominance in that area

There was no good candidate

Long queue and S/he did not have time

NR

S/he did not know the polling station

Any Other

S/he did not get voter slip even on polling day at the booth

Polling station was at distance (S/he had transportation …

S/he just did not want to vote as nothing will change

His/her name was not on electoral roll

S/he did not have electoral photo ID Card

S/he was not in his/her constituency

Reasons for not voting among family members (n=1642)

5.8 Factors influencing high

High turnout in elections has been an alarming situation for Election Commission which

strive for execution of fair polling practices. This study has assessed multiple factors that

influence high voter turnout. In response to question related to factors in

voter turnout in respondent’s area, 39.2% respondents reported that the party /

candidate wave was the main reason for this. Further, 36.3% reported that because of

good candidate there was high voter turnout in their area. Dissatisfaction f

government or candidate was not very significant reason as only 4.1% respondents

reported this factor. The other reasons were money power and muscle power, police

protection, awareness of voter, believe in a particular party, trust in election process

and motivation by Village Mukhiya.

Table 5.8.1: Factors influencing high voter turnout in respondent’s area

Sl. No. Response

1 Money power

2 Muscle power

3 Party / Candidate Wave

4 Good Candidate

5 Dissatisfaction from Govt. / Candidate

6 Any other

7 NR/NA

Factors influencing high voter turnout in respondent’s area



influence high voter turnout. In response to question related to factors in



good candidate there was high voter turnout in their area. Dissatisfaction f




and motivation by Village Mukhiya.


Male (N=3287) Female (N=1236)

Number Percen

t

Numbe

r

Percen

t

26 0.8% 18 1.5%

14 0.4% 7 0.6%

Party / Candidate Wave 1284 39.1% 491 39.7%

1253 38.1% 391 31.6%

Dissatisfaction from Govt. 150 4.6% 36 2.9%

316 9.6% 115 9.3%

834 25.4% 347 28.1%

42



influence high voter turnout. In response to question related to factors influencing high



good candidate there was high voter turnout in their area. Dissatisfaction from





Female (N=1236) Total

(N=4523)

Percen Num

ber

Percen

t

44 1.0%

21 0.5%

39.7% 1775 39.2%

31.6% 1644 36.3%

186 4.1%

431 9.5%

28.1% 1181 26.1%

Figure 5.8.1: Factor influencing high voter turnout in respondent’s area

5.9 Experience on the day of Voting

Majority of the survey respondents (

convenient on the day of voting. About

inconvenience while voting. 6.8%

was taxing and they felt exhausted in the ex

Table 5.9.1: Experience during last Voting

Response Male (N=3287)

Number

Convenient 2584

Inconvenient

Taxing

Don't Remember

NR/NA

Grand Total 3287

1.0% 0.5%

Money power Muscle powerCandidate

Factors leading to High voter turnout


Experience on the day of Voting

Majority of the survey respondents (76.7%) said that their overall experience was

convenient on the day of voting. About 10.6% people said that they had to face some

6.8% respondents said that the entire experience of voting

was taxing and they felt exhausted in the exercise.

Table 5.9.1: Experience during last Voting

Male (N=3287) Female (N=1236) Total (N=4523)

Number Percent Number Percent Number

2584 78.6% 885 71.6% 3469

344 10.5% 134 10.8% 478

228 6.9% 80 6.5% 308

73 2.2% 118 9.5% 191

58 1.8% 19 1.5% 77

3287 100.0% 1236 100.0% 4523

39.2%36.3%

4.1%

9.5%

Party / Candidate

Wave

Good Candidate

Dissatisfaction from Govt. / Candidate

Any other

Factors leading to High voter turnout

43


) said that their overall experience was

people said that they had to face some

respondents said that the entire experience of voting

Total (N=4523)

Number Percent

3469 76.7%

478 10.6%

308 6.8%

191 4.2%

77 1.7%

4523 100.0%

26.1%

NR/NA

Figure 5.9.1: Experience during last Voting

5.10 Security arrangements during elections

When asked about security arrangements during elections,

that the arrangements were adequate.

arrangements were somewhat adequate and could have been better, whereas

respondents said that there were no proper security arrangements and they didn’t feel

secure to go out to vote.

Table 5.10.1:

Response Male (N=3287)

Number

Adequate 1283

Somewhat 1684

Not at all 181

Can’t say 139

Grand Total 3287

10.6%

6.8%4.2%

Figure 5.9.1: Experience during last Voting

Security arrangements during elections

When asked about security arrangements during elections, 38.7% respondents reported

that the arrangements were adequate. 51.3% people were of the view that the security

arrangements were somewhat adequate and could have been better, whereas

said that there were no proper security arrangements and they didn’t feel

Table 5.10.1: Security arrangements during elections



1283 39.0% 468 37.9% 1751

1684 51.2% 637 51.5% 2321

181 5.5% 46 3.7% 227

139 4.2% 85 6.9% 224

3287 100.0% 1236 100.0% 4523

76.7%

4.2%

1.7%

Experience during last Voting

44

respondents reported

people were of the view that the security

arrangements were somewhat adequate and could have been better, whereas 5%

said that there were no proper security arrangements and they didn’t feel

Total (N=4523)

Percent

38.7%

51.3%

5.0%

5.0%

100.0%

Convenient

Inconvenient

Taxing

Don't Remember

NR/NA

Figure 5.10.1:

5.11 Difficulties faced by Voters on the day of Voting

When asked about difficulties faced by people on the day of voting,

respondents said that they did not face any difficulties.

experienced long queues at t

of arrangements for drinking water, toilets and ramp for differently abled voters.

respondents during the survey also pointed the absence of separate queue for senior

citizens / elderly people. 7.3%

polling personnel while 7% respondents said that they faced difficulty in getting their

voter slip at facilitation centre.

Some people also talked about the difficulty in accessing the polling b

where there were water bodies (ponds/lakes) in the way. Several respondents also

talked about harsh weather and the lack of arrangements of shade for people who

have to stand for long hours in queue before they get a chance to vote. Few

respondents also spoke about the EVMs getting dysfunctional and the time they had to

wait for before the machine became functional.

51.3%

5.0%


Figure 5.10.1: Security arrangements during elections

Difficulties faced by Voters on the day of Voting

When asked about difficulties faced by people on the day of voting,

respondents said that they did not face any difficulties. 28% respondents said that they

experienced long queues at the polling booths while 18.8% people indicated the lack

of arrangements for drinking water, toilets and ramp for differently abled voters.


7.3% people said that they hardly received any guidance from

respondents said that they faced difficulty in getting their

voter slip at facilitation centre.

Some people also talked about the difficulty in accessing the polling booth, especially




spondents also spoke about the EVMs getting dysfunctional and the time they had to

wait for before the machine became functional.

38.7%

5.0% 5.0%


45

When asked about difficulties faced by people on the day of voting, 56.9%

respondents said that they

people indicated the lack

of arrangements for drinking water, toilets and ramp for differently abled voters. 12.8%


people said that they hardly received any guidance from

respondents said that they faced difficulty in getting their

ooth, especially




spondents also spoke about the EVMs getting dysfunctional and the time they had to

Adequate

Somewhat

Not at all

Can’t say

46

Table 5.11.1: Difficulties in Voting

Sl.

No. Response


(N=1236) Total (N=4523)

Numb

er

Perce

nt

Numb

er

Perce

nt

Numb

er

Perce

nt

1 Long queue 978 29.8% 287 23.2% 1265 28.0%

2 No separate queue for senior citizen 457 13.9% 124 10.0% 581 12.8%

3 Lack of facilities including drinking water toilet and ramp 614 18.7% 237 19.2% 851 18.8%

4 Coercion/threat by political party booth operators 61 1.9% 18 1.5% 79 1.7%

5 Difficulties in locating my polling station 14 0.4% 7 0.6% 21 0.5%

6 Difficulties in getting my voter slip at facilitation centre 250 7.6% 66 5.3% 316 7.0%

7 No guidance from polling personnel 273 8.3% 59 4.8% 332 7.3%

8 Any other 203 6.2% 93 7.5% 296 6.5%

9 No Problem 6 0.2% 1 0.1% 7 0.2%

10 NR/NA 1863 56.7% 712 57.6% 2575 56.9%

Figure 5.11.1: Difficulties in Voting

0.2%

0.5%

1.7%

6.5%

7.0%

7.3%

12.8%

18.8%

28.0%

56.9%

No Problem

Difficulties in locating my polling station

Coercion/threat by political party booth operators

Any other

Difficulties in getting my voter slip at facilitation …

No guidance from polling personnel

No separate queue for senior citizen

Lack of facilities including drinking water toilet …

Long queue

NR/NA

Difficulties in Voting

47

5.12 Occurrence of Poll Boycott

When asked about the incidents of poll boycott, 96.9% voters said that they have never

experienced a poll boycott in their constituencies. Only 3.1% respondents reported that

they have experienced boycott of voting in their area. Amongst this group of

respondents, 35% people still voted despite the call for boycott of voting in their area

whereas 65% people supported the boycott by not voting.

Table 5.12.1: Election Boycott and Participation

Boycott Status of

Vote

Male Female Total


Yes

Vote 41 35.0% 8 34.8% 49 35.0%

No Vote 76 65.0% 15 65.2% 91 65.0%

Sub Total 117 3.6% 23 1.9% 140 3.1%

No 3170 96.4% 1213 98.1% 4383 96.9%

Grand Total 3287 100.0% 1236 100.0% 4523 100.0%

Figure 5.12.1: Election Boycott and Participation

When asked about the reasons for supporting the poll boycott, 75.8% respondents

reported that it was their own decision to boycott the polls. 9.9% respondents said that

they did not vote because of fear of being harmed by people who supported the

boycott. 5.5% people said that they chose not to vote out of social pressure. Some

Vote

35.0%

No Vote

65.0%

No boycott

96.9%

Boycott

3.1%

Election Boycott and Participation

other reasons for supporting the poll boycott were lack of development wo

negligence of constituencies by elected leaders.

Table 5.12.2:

Response Number

On one’s own 57

Fear 7

Social pressure 5

Other 7

Grand Total 76

Figure 5.12.2:

When asked about the influencers for supporting the poll boycott,

admitted that it was a community decision.

had influenced to support the poll boycott whereas

self motivated decision.

9.9%

5.5%

Reasons for Supporting the Boycott (n=91)

other reasons for supporting the poll boycott were lack of development wo

negligence of constituencies by elected leaders.

Table 5.12.2: Reasons for Supporting the Boycott

Male Female Total


75.0% 12 80.0% 69

9.2% 2 13.3% 9

6.6% 0 0.0% 5

9.2% 1 6.7% 8

100.0% 15 100.0% 91

Figure 5.12.2: Reasons for Supporting the Boycott

When asked about the influencers for supporting the poll boycott, 52.1%

admitted that it was a community decision. 10% people admitted that a local leader

had influenced to support the poll boycott whereas 4.3% people reported that it was a

75.8%

8.8%

Reasons for Supporting the Boycott (n=91)

On one’s own

Fear

Social pressure

Other

48

other reasons for supporting the poll boycott were lack of development work and

Total

Percent

75.8%

9.9%

5.5%

8.8%

100.0%

52.1% respondents

people admitted that a local leader

people reported that it was a

On one’s own

Fear

Social pressure

Other

Table 5.12.3: People who influence Poll Boycott

Response Number

Local Leader

Community Decision

Self-motivated

NR

Grand Total

Figure 5.12.3: People who influence Poll Boycott

Communication was another component of the survey by which the office of the CEO

in Bihar wanted to know about the most effective medium for reaching the voters. To

gain insights on this aspect, several questions were asked which were tabulated and

analyzed in a manner indicated in the following paragraphs.

6.1 Voters Awareness Campaign by Election Commission of India

During the survey, one of the issues addressed was the level of awa

electoral process among voters. The Election Commission of India (ECI) launches

awareness campaigns by advertisements in print and electronic media. Many

celebrities / public icons are also roped in to send relevant messages through

4.30%

33.60%

People who influence Poll Boycott (n=140)

Table 5.12.3: People who influence Poll Boycott

Male Female


10 8.5% 4 17.4% 14

59 50.4% 14 60.9% 73

6 5.1% 0.0% 6

42 35.9% 5 21.7% 47

117 100.0% 23 100.0% 140

Figure 5.12.3: People who influence Poll Boycott



this aspect, several questions were asked which were tabulated and

analyzed in a manner indicated in the following paragraphs.

Campaign by Election Commission of India

During the survey, one of the issues addressed was the level of awareness about the




10.00%

52.10%

People who influence Poll Boycott (n=140)

Local leader

Community decision

Self-motivated

NR

49

Total

Number Percent

14 10.0%

73 52.1%

6 4.3%

47 33.6%

140 100.0%



this aspect, several questions were asked which were tabulated and

reness about the




Local leader

Community decision

motivated

50

advertisements. When enquired about having come across advertisements, more than

85% of the respondents said that they had seen the advertisements. The results can be

seen in Table 6.1.1 and corresponding Figure 6.1.1 it is clear from the table that more

men rather than women have seen such advertisements. It, therefore, appears that the

awareness campaigns by ECI are very effective.

Table 6.1.1: Awareness about Election Campaign



Yes 2909 88.5% 960 77.7% 3869 85.5%

No 378 11.5% 276 22.3% 654 14.5%

Grand Total 3287 100.0% 1236 100.0% 4523 100.0%

6.2 Channels of Communication

When asked about the most effective channels of communication, the respondents

stated that Newspapers (41.2%), Doordarshan (35.4%) and Radio (35.7) were found to

be common-most sources of information. Table 6.2.1 and Figure 6.2.2 further show that

Posters/ Hoardings (23.8%) and B.L.O. (29.3%) were the other effective sources of

communication.

Table 6.2.1: Effective Sources of Communication

Sl.

No. Response

Male

(N=2909)

Female

(N=960)

Total

(N=3869)

Numb

er

Perce

nt

Numb

er

Perce

nt

Numb

er

Perce

nt

1 Newspaper 1373 47.2% 222 23.1% 1595 41.2%

2 Doordarshan 1045 35.9% 323 33.6% 1368 35.4%

3 All India radio 1099 37.8% 284 29.6% 1383 35.7%

4 Cable TV 188 6.5% 75 7.8% 263 6.8%

5 Video vans 63 2.2% 5 0.5% 68 1.8%

6 Government offices 63 2.2% 18 1.9% 81 2.1%

7 School/Colleges/Educational Institutions 24 0.8% 6 0.6% 30 0.8%

8 Posters, hoardings and publicity materials; 651 22.4% 269 28.0% 920 23.8%

9 NGO and Civil society Group 4 0.1% 1 0.1% 5 0.1%

10 Booth Level Officers 767 26.4% 368 38.3% 1135 29.3%

11 Voter helpline 5 0.2% 1 0.1% 6 0.2%

12 Any other 102 3.5% 74 7.7% 176 4.5%

13 NR 8 0.3% 4 0.4% 12 0.3%

51

Figure 6.2.1: Effective Sources of Communication

6.3 Role of N.G.Os. / Civil Society Organizations in spreading awareness:

N.G.Os. and Civil Society Organizations are playing an important role in different

spheres of social life. Therefore, it seemed imperative for CIMP team to find out the

names of such organizations and the extent to which they impact the voters in

enhancing the awareness level. Unfortunately it was found that not many such

organizations were active in this field. Table 6.3.1 and Figure 6.3.1 show that a paltry

1.8% of the respondents said that such an organization was working in their area.

Table 6.3.1: Role of N.G.Os. / Civil Society Organizations



Yes 65 2.0% 17 1.4% 82 1.8%

No 3222 98.0% 1219 98.6% 4441 98.2%

Grand Total 3287 100.0% 1236 100.0% 4523 100.0%

0.10%

0.20%

0.30%

0.80%

1.80%

2.10%

4.50%

6.80%

23.80%

29.30%

35.40%

35.70%

41.20%

NGO and Civil society Group

Voter helpline

NR

School/Colleges/Educational Institutions

Video vans

Government offices

Any other

Cable TV

Posters, hoardings and publicity materials;


Doordarshan

All India radio

Newspaper

Effective Sources of Communication (n=3869)

Figure 6.3.1: Role of NGOs / Civil Society Organizations in spreading awareness

When the respondents were further asked to name the N.G.O.s, mention was made of

Jeevika, Self Help Groups, ASHA workers and Anganwadi Sevikas. Strictly speaking, only

one N.G.O. was named– Manav Seva Bharti. This organization is working actively in the

district of Vaishali.

6.4 Popular and Convincing Sources of Communication

During the survey, respondents were asked about the most popular and convincing

sources of communication regarding election related information. It has emerged from

the survey that people found Newspapers, Do

convincing. The results can be seen from the Table

Table 6.4.1: Popular and Convincing Sources of Communication

Sl.

No. Response

1 Newspaper

2 Doordarshan

3 All India radio

4 Cable TV

Male

2.0%

Role of N.G.Os. / Civil Society Organizations in spreading

.3.1: Role of NGOs / Civil Society Organizations in spreading awareness

further asked to name the N.G.O.s, mention was made of


Manav Seva Bharti. This organization is working actively in the

Popular and Convincing Sources of Communication



the survey that people found Newspapers, Doordarshan and Radio, most popular and

convincing. The results can be seen from the Table 6.4.1 and Figure 6.4.1.

.4.1: Popular and Convincing Sources of Communication

Male

(N=3287)

Female

(N=1236)

Numb

er

Perce

nt

Numb

er

Perce

nt

1366 41.6% 245 19.8%

1014 30.8% 393 31.8%

1178 35.8% 302 24.4%

178 5.4% 107 8.7%

Female

1.4%

98.0% 98.6%

Role of N.G.Os. / Civil Society Organizations in spreading awareness

Yes No

52

.3.1: Role of NGOs / Civil Society Organizations in spreading awareness

further asked to name the N.G.O.s, mention was made of


Manav Seva Bharti. This organization is working actively in the



ordarshan and Radio, most popular and

.4.1.

.4.1: Popular and Convincing Sources of Communication

Total

(N=4523)

Numb

er

Perce

nt

1611 35.6%

1407 31.1%

1480 32.7%

285 6.3%

53

5 Video vans 91 2.8% 6 0.5% 97 2.1%

6 Government offices 120 3.7% 25 2.0% 145 3.2%

7 Colleges/Educational Institutions 32 1.0% 15 1.2% 47 1.0%

8 Posters, hoardings and publicity materials 579 17.6% 206 16.7% 785 17.4%

9 NGO and Civil society Group 11 0.3% 3 0.2% 14 0.3%

10 Booth Level Officers 623 19.0% 340 27.5% 963 21.3%

11 Voter Helpline Phoneline 3 0.1% 3 0.2% 6 0.1%

12 Any other 141 4.3% 174 14.1% 315 7.0%

13 NR 62 1.9% 22 1.8% 84 1.9%

Figure 6.4.1: Popular and convincing sources of communication

6.5 Important Election-related messages

For the purpose of free and fair elections, a range of messages are communicated to

the voters by ECI. During the survey, the respondents were asked to single out the

messages which they had received and were important. Multiple responses were

elicited.

0.1%

0.3%

1.0%

1.9%

2.1%

3.2%

6.3%

7.0%

17.4%

21.3%

31.1%

32.7%

35.6%

Voter Helpline Phoneline

NGO and Civil society Group

Colleges/Educational Institutions

NR

Video vans

Government offices

Cable TV

Any other

Posters, hoardings and publicity materials


Doordarshan

All India radio

Newspaper

Popular and convincing sources of communication

54

Table 6.5.1: Election-related Messages

Sl.

No. Response


(N=1236) Total (N=4523)

Numb

er

Perce

nt

Numb

er

Perce

nt

Numb

er

Perce

nt

1 Registration of voter 1114 33.9% 307 24.8% 1421 31.4%

2 Preparation of voter cards 1512 46.0% 471 38.1% 1983 43.8%

3 Steps taken for free and fair election 956 29.1% 225 18.2% 1181 26.1%

4 Voter Slip Distribution Schedule 1178 35.8% 483 39.1% 1661 36.7%

5 Alternate Identity Documents for voting 625 19.0% 186 15.0% 811 17.9%

6 Postal Ballot 70 2.1% 18 1.5% 88 1.9%

7 Separate Queues for Old and sick 295 9.0% 98 7.9% 393 8.7%

8 No queue for disabled 293 8.9% 45 3.6% 338 7.5%

9 Date of voting and schedules 623 19.0% 300 24.3% 923 20.4%

10 Voting is right and duty, so must cast vote 1704 51.8% 620 50.2% 2324 51.4%

11 Application of code of conduct 450 13.7% 73 5.9% 523 11.6%

12

Cast vote as per conscience and without taking any inducement 776 23.6% 265 21.4% 1041 23.0%

13 Strict enforcement of ECI rules 321 9.8% 72 5.8% 393 8.7%

14 Do’s and Don’ts on polling day 157 4.8% 42 3.4% 199 4.4%

15 Provision of NOTA 258 7.8% 71 5.7% 329 7.3%

16 Any other 8 0.2% 4 0.3% 12 0.3%

17 NR 96 2.9% 39 3.2% 135 3.0%

Table 6.5.1 shows that some of the well received messages were registration of voters,

preparation of EPIC cards, voter slip distribution schedule, casting vote is right and duty

and cast vote as per conscience and without taking any inducement. Information on

Postal Ballot, NOTA, special provision for disabled, etc. was quite negligible. Here, it is

worth mentioning that the language in which these messages / information are

conveyed to the voters is equally important. While ECI primarily uses Hindi and English to

convey election-related information, suggestions were made that such communication

55

should be done in local dialects as well. Graphical presentation of results is given in

Figure 6.5.1.

Figure 6.5.1: Most important voter information / message

6.6 Advertisements with Celebrities / Icons:

Election Commission of India enrolls celebrities and state/ national icons to spread

awareness about election process. As evident from Figure and Table- 6.6, 44% of the

respondents have seen advertisements with such celebrities / icons. Surprisingly, larger

sections of the respondents had not seen such advertisements.

Table 6.6.1: Advertisements with Celebrities / Icons



Yes 1597 48.6% 391 31.6% 1988 44.0%

No 1690 51.4% 845 68.4% 2535 56.0%

Grand Total 3287 100.0% 1236 100.0% 4523 100.0%

0.3%1.9%3.0%4.4%

7.3%7.5%8.7%8.7%

11.6%17.9%

20.4%23.0%

26.1%31.4%

36.7%43.8%

51.4%

Any other Postal Ballot

NRDo’s and Don’ts on polling day

Provision of NOTA No queue for disabled

Separate Queues for Old and sickStrict enforcement of ECI rulesApplication of code of conduct

Alternate Identity Documents for votingDate of voting and schedules

Cast vote as per conscience and without …Steps taken for free and fair election

Registration of voterVoter Slip Distribution Schedule

Preparation of voter cardsVoting is right and duty so must cast vote

Most important voter information/message

56

Figure 6.6.1: ECI Advertisement or Campaign with ICONs/STARS

The field investigators further enquired as to who were the most appealing and

motivating celebrities / icons. Table – 6.6.2 and Figure – 6.6.2 shows that the most

appealing and motivating icons were Aamir Khan (60%), M.S. Dhoni (49.1%) and

Sharda Sinha (32.5 %). A common suggestion was to involve Mr. Amitabh Bachchan

and Mr. Sachin Tendulkar for this purpose.

Table 6.6.2: Most appealing Celebrities

Sl.

No. Response


Numbe

r

Percen

t

Numbe

r

Percen

t

Numbe

r

Percen

t

1 Aamir Khan 931 58.3% 262 67.0% 1193 60.0%

2 Cricketer M.S. Dhoni 831 52.0% 146 37.3% 977 49.1%

3 Mary Kom 231 14.5% 19 4.9% 250 12.6%

4 Saina Nehwal 155 9.7% 14 3.6% 169 8.5%

5 Ratan Rajput 80 5.0% 15 3.8% 95 4.8%

6 Sharda Sinha 538 33.7% 108 27.6% 646 32.5%

7 Any Other 98 6.1% 14 3.6% 112 5.6%

8 NR 5 0.3% 5 1.3% 10 0.5%

48.6%

31.6%

51.4%

68.4%

Male Female

ECI Advertisement or Campaign with ICONs/STARS

Yes No

57

Figure 6.6.2: Most appealing/ motivating ICON used by the ECI

6.7 Information about changes in Polling Booth:

To assess the level of information about respective polling booth, question was put to

the respondents if they were aware about changes in the location of their polling

booths. Table and Figure 6.7.1 show that 47% of the respondents were aware of the

changes whereas 53% were not aware.

Table 7.7.1: Information about changes in Polling Booth



Yes 1606 48.9% 522 42.2% 2128 47.0%

No 1681 51.1% 714 57.8% 2395 53.0%

Grand Total 3287 100.0% 1236 100.0% 4523 100.0%

0.50%

4.80%

5.60%

8.50%

12.60%

32.50%

49.10%

60.00%

NR

Ratan Rajput

Any Other

Saina Nehwal

Mary Kom

Sharda Sinha

Cricketer M.S. Dhoni

Aamir Khan

Most appealing/ motivating ICON used by the ECI (n=1988)

Figure 6.7.1: Information about change in polling booth

The respondents were further asked as to how they get information about changes in

the location of the polling booths. Table and Figure

B.L.O. and political party workers at the time of elections are the major sources from

whom the respondents get to know about change of polling booth and voting serial

number in the voter’s list.

Table 6.7.2: Sources of

Sl. No. Response

1 By B.L.O. provided voter list

2 By the B.L.O. provided Voter slip

3 By political party

4 Voting being done at the same place

5 Any other

6 NR

Male

48.9% 51.1%

Information about change in polling booth

.7.1: Information about change in polling booth


the location of the polling booths. Table and Figure 6.7.2 shows that the activities of



.7.2: Sources of information regarding booth changes

Male (N=1606) Female (N=522)

Number Percent Number Percent

640 39.9% 173 33.1%

By the B.L.O. provided Voter slip 806 50.2% 293 56.1%

501 31.2% 84 16.1%

Voting being done at the same place 625 38.9% 204 39.1%

68 4.2% 30 5.7%

10 0.6% 0.0%

Female

42.2%

51.1%57.8%

Information about change in polling booth

Yes No

58


.7.2 shows that the activities of



information regarding booth changes

Female (N=522) Total (N=2128)

Percent Number Percent

33.1% 813 38.2%

56.1% 1099 51.6%

16.1% 585 27.5%

39.1% 829 39.0%

5.7% 98 4.6%

0.0% 10 0.5%

59

Figure 6.7.2: Information about the polling booth and election serial number

0.5%

4.6%

27.5%

38.2%

39.0%

51.6%

NR

Any other

By political party

By B.L.O. provided voter list

Voting being done at the same place

By the B.L.O. provided Voter slip

Information about the polling booth and election serial number (n=2128)

60

7.0 Major KABBP Recommendations for Policy Level Interventions

Recommendations regarding participation in election

• It is often been seen that the voters are there in their constituencies during

festival and holiday season such as Chatth, Diwali, Durga Puja etc. Therefore, if

election dates are closer to the festival and holiday season, it can be said with

reasonable certainty that the participation of voters would be higher thus raising

the voter turnout.

• There is some kind of neutrality with respect to voting as the voters feel that

nothing changes with elections. Essentially they refer to the lack of

developmental work in the area. We recommend that effective advertising and

awareness campaigns can be started on a larger scale about importance of

voting in a democracy stating that effective government selected by voters will

lead to proper development of the region. Hence, it will create a positive impact

and motivate them to vote.

• Our findings show that though some of the BLOs are active, a larger percentage

of the BLOs are not taking sufficient interest in terms of distributing voter slips to

the voters. Efforts should be made to motivate them and direct them to make

greater efforts in terms of distributing the voter slips well before the elections so

that voter turnout is higher.

• Accessibility of the booth from village is a factor which matters to the voters.

Therefore, special care has to be taken that the polling booths are located in

proximity to the village so that least inconvenience is caused specially to women

and the elderly voters.

• Yet another finding was the difficulty faced by the voters in terms of long queues

at the polling booths. Such long queues were reported from booths where voters

were in large numbers. It is recommended to design a plan to encourage voters

to utilize the lean hours like 12:30 – 3:00 PM for voting. Such plan would help in

minimizing rush during morning and closing hours.

• It is further recommended that polling booths should be selected wherever there

is good accessibility, availability of basic amenities such as toilets and drinking

water facilities and connectivity with the main road/ residential areas.

Furthermore, separate queues for the elderly voters and physically handicapped

61

voters should be provided. If possible, ramps should be there to make voting

easy and convenient.

• It goes without saying that greater the awareness about voting rights and its

positive impact, higher the voter turnout. It is therefore recommended that large

scale advertising and awareness campaigns should be started for spreading

awareness about voting rights.

Recommendations regarding awareness of voters in elections

• While Election Department plays important role in making people aware about

various nuances of election, a section of our respondents feel that the agents of

political parties are more effective in informing the voters about the dates of

election. The Department may make strategies (for e.g., by greater involvement

of BLO) to inform people about the dates of election in a particular locality.

• Another finding from this study is that 39.7% respondents have reported that

newspaper was the primary source of information related to election dates. In

this context, we recommend that newspaper and other print media should be

used as a primary medium to create any awareness including polling dates.

• Furthermore, the Doordarshan and All India Radio are also important sources of

information as about 32.3% and 33.6% respondents respectively have reported

about getting the polling date information from these sources. Therefore, it is

recommended that the use of Doordarshan and All India Radio as medium of

spreading awareness should be enhanced with passage of time.

• There are other important sources of spreading awareness such as hoardings,

posters, Jeevika workers, Anganwadi Sevikas, Asha workers etc. It is

recommended that efforts should be continued in engaging them in spreading

awareness.

• It was reported that 3.1% respondents have experienced boycott of voting in

their areas. Wherever such a poll boycott has happened, it is recommended

that awareness needs to be created that poll boycott amounts to denial of their

right of voting which is a fundamental right and in such an event, the voter is the

looser. It is expected that this will totally nullify the instances of poll boycott

Recommendations regarding Voting pattern in the household of respondents

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• One of the major findings of the study regarding the voting pattern in the

households of the respondents is that migration is high and significant reason for

lower voting in the households.

• To ascertain the reasons and level of migration, it is recommended that a

separate study on ‘Migration in Bihar’ should be conducted as it has

repercussions on voter participation which is an area of immense importance to

the Election Department of Bihar.

Recommendations regarding Factors influencing high voter turnout

• Though some of the reasons stated by the respondents for high voter turnout do

not come within the purview of the Election Department, we recommend that

proper security arrangements are made to reduce muscle power and other

unethical practices which are there at the time of elections.

• It is further recommended that the Panchayat Level functionaries should be

directed and motivated to create awareness about free and fair elections.

Recommendations regarding Medium of Communication

• More than 85% of the respondents said that they had seen voter awareness

advertisements through Newspapers, Doordarshan and All India Radio.

Considering the reach of these mass media channels, it is recommended to

continue leveraging these media for greater reach.

• The election related messages should be communicated in local dialects like

Bhojpuri, Maithili, Magahi, Angika in the form of folk songs, jingles and street plays

for better comprehension. Discussions have also pointed out that this has not

been done so far.

• It was found that not many NGOs / civil society organizations are working in the

area of promoting awareness and ethical voting practices among voters. It is

recommended that ECI should empanel some good NGOs to carry out

awareness campaigns at the grassroots level to help in promoting ethical voting

practices and higher voter participation.

• It was found that Information on use of EVM, special provision for disabled, etc.

was quite negligible. Hence it is recommended that such important election

related messages should be incorporated in the awareness campaigns.

• It was reported that the most appealing and motivating icons in the

advertisements were Aamir Khan (60%), M.S. Dhoni (49.1%) and Sharda Sinha

(32.5 %). On the basis of the survey, it is also recommended to rope in celebrities

with mass appeal like Amitabh Bachchan and Sachin Tendulkar.

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• It was reported that 53% were not aware of the changes in their polling booths. It

is recommended that the District Administration and BLOs play an active role in

disseminating information regarding changes in polling booths and related

information. Jeevika workers and Anganwadi Sevikas may also be involved in

disseminating such information to voters.

The main objective of this study was to understand the extent and level of knowledge,

belief, perception, readiness, trends, factors and reasons for participation & non-

participation of registered voters in the election process. The findings of this study reveal

several trends which are important to understand perceptions and reasons related to

non-participation of registered voters in the election process.

As many as 4,523 respondents of 25 assembly constituencies from various strata

including women and minorities were selected for the survey. The sample areas were

chosen to adequately represent the rural-urban, general and reserved (scheduled

castes and other backward classes) category voters in the state. Special care was

taken to ensure that female high and low voter turnout was also represented in the

sample.

The survey revealed that 64% respondents see voting as their right, while 15.5% feel that

they voted because of free and fair environment created by Election Commission and

for 35% getting the voter slip was the main motivating factor behind casting their vote.

Hence, important “reasons for voting” identified by majority of voters, interestingly, was

their duty and right to vote, also that they “possessed a voter slip”. At the time of voting,

significantly, 57 per cent voters said that the candidate was the “most influencing

factor for deciding voting preference.” The study also revealed other influences like

community or caste leaders, spouse, head of family, friends and religious or spiritual

leaders.

Further, the survey also revealed that migration is one of the most significant factors

behind non-participation of registered voters in the election process. In the survey, 556

voters out of 4,523, or 12.3 percent, did not vote, because they were not present in their

constituency, or the timing was at odds with their working hours, or they did not have

the electoral photo identity card (EPIC) or their name was missing from the electoral roll,

or that “because they felt nothing would change.”

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The voters also identified several problems in the electoral process itself. Majority of the

survey respondents (76.7%) said that their overall experience was convenient on the

day of voting. But about 10.6% people said that they had to face some inconvenience

while voting. Further, 6.8 percent of the electorate did not think that their experience

while voting in previous elections was “good” or “very good.” Large number of

respondents (3469 out of 4523) said they “did not face any difficulty in voting”. Further,

while only “a handful” complained of political coercion, the practical problems they

identified included “long queues at booths, no separate line for senior citizens, lack of

drinking water, toilets and ramps at the booths.” Political indifference towards the

voting process was also found to be prevalent when majority of those who participated

in the focus group discussions said “they did not feel the need for major reforms in the

election process.”

When asked about security arrangements during elections, 38.7% respondents reported

that the arrangements were adequate. 51.3% people were of the view that the security

arrangements were somewhat adequate and could have been better, whereas 5%

respondents said that there were no proper security arrangements and they didn’t feel

secure to go out to vote. However, due to the small number of such cases, the study

could not assess what specific type of threats voters perceive. As many as 90 percent of

the respondents felt that they did not perceive “security threat of any nature during the

elections” which is a welcome change.

This study has assessed multiple factors that influence high voter turnout. In response to

question related to factors influencing high voter turnout in respondent’s area, 39.2%

respondents reported that the party / candidate wave was the main reason for this.

Further, 36.3% reported that because of good candidate there was high voter turnout

in their area. Dissatisfaction from government or candidate was not very significant

reason as only 4.1% respondents reported this factor.

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SVEEP Objectives

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8.0 SVEEP Campaign Objective

The Election Commission of India is recognized globally as one of the world’s leading

electoral institutions. Of its many outstanding initiatives, the Commission’s Voter

Education and Electoral Participation Campaign played a decisive role in ensuring

record turnout in India’s historic 2014 general elections. In an effort to capture and

share this India’s experience, this Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral

Participation Plan (SVEEP) is being prepared in the upcoming (2015 )elections in Bihar

with the aim of providing guidance to election managers on the planning and

execution of voter education strategies.

360 Degree Media Campaign framework is now recognized as an essential approach of any successful Systematic Voters Awareness, Education and Motivational Campaign. When implemented in a planned and coordinated manner and within a wide range of interventions, 360 degree Media campaign can result into sustained change in an individual or communities adopts new behaviors and social norms or participate in electoral process. It can also overcome barriers that restrict voter’s involvement and generate greater electoral participations and meaningful engagement. This SVEEP 360 degree communication campaign strategy shall provide a framework that aligns communication with the goals and vision of the Election Commission of India to conduct free and fair elections in Bihar, Hence, the SVEEP strategy for Bihar for has the following key strategic objectives:-

- Maximize Public Engagement in the Election processes by enhancing awareness,

generate motivation and facilitate behavior change among electors for an enhanced electoral participation

- To provide reliable and timely information to the public at all points of interaction and all aspects of life. The purpose is to reach out to a large numbers of the population using strategic communication approaches involving mass media, mid and outdoor media, interpersonal communications. While each medium is distinct and serves an individual purpose, they are inter-related and together form a holistic package. The process was carried out at all points of public interactions right from Panchayat level to District level

- To build trust in and improve the image of the democratic system through greater facilitation measures, and through training and capacity building, and by creating linkages between the private and public sectors to ensure quality of services.

- To create an enabling and supporting environment for meaningful civic engagements through community-based dialogue, advocacy, and social mobilization.

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Audience Segmentations

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9.0 Audience Segmentation

Rural and Urban Populations, Men and Women Electors, Youth, Excluded Communities, Children 10-17 (Future Electors) and Physically Challenged are the primary target audience for the communication strategy. This group will be further segmented by secondary and tertiary as follows

Priority Audience Sub-segments Rationale/ Key motivations

Primary Audience

Household Level Rural and Urban Polulations Men and Women Electors, Youth, Excluded Communities, Children 10-17 (Future Electors) and Physically Challenged

Men and Women who have their names registered in Electoral Roll, Youths, Old age people and Mothers-in-law perceived as key decision makers and influencers would be another prime target group. Adolescents/ Children 10-17 constitute a priority target group because they are future electors and if mobilized can influence the electors (Example use of Sankalp Patra)

Secondary Audience

Booth Level BLO- Booth Level Officers, BAG’s- Booth Level Awareness groups Jeevika, Rozgar Sahayak /Mitra/ ANM, ASHA, Aaganwadi, Doctors, nurses, Community Health Workers, Community Health Extension Workers, Local governance bodies/ Panchayti Raj Institutions (PRI), private sector, and media CSO & CBOs (i.e. SHG’s local level NGOs), Opinion leaders in communities

They are an integral intermediary in promoting electoral services both on the electoral facilitation and electoral participations side and have direct access to people -Panchayat members, elderly and other village leaders are important gatekeepers of information flow and potential facilitators for removing obstacles to electoral behavior change.

Tertiary Audiences

Block Level/District Level/AC levels

DEO/ AERO’s and ERO’S Policy makers, Governments & senior civil servants (Ministers, Secretaries, Directors, Local government authorities)

Advocacy with policy makers and CSO’s will create an enabling environment through Inter-Department coordination’s, Allocations of adequate financial and

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human resources,

Tertiary Audiences

Media Organizations CSR partners INGOs, UN agencies National NGOs

Creative and financial resources may be mobilized to carry out 360 Degree media campaign in the state. Agencies like Doordarshan/All India Radio provided free of cost airtime to broadcast TV and Radio programs on their channels. PSUs/Corporate provided sponsorships and financial resource to carry out poster and hoarding campaign in the state Similarly, Departments like Railways, Airports, Banks etc for providing infrastructure for dissemination and display, Private Media Houses for providing print space, airtime, content etc Editors, media executives and programme directors of various media agencies to be mobilized

CSO’s, Private/Corporate partners, Media gatekeepers will be valuable partners in disseminating information disseminate messages targeting voters for greater electoral participations. Reframe the debate within the context of ECI goals. It will play a role in providing information and projecting a positive image of services/facilitations provided by the ECI/Office of CEO during the before elections

SVEEP Strategy

SVEEP Strategy

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10.0. SVEEP Strategy

Experience shows that even greater awareness does not necessarily get converted into greater participation as behavioral change is a much more complex task. To improve participation of all sections of the electorate, information, motivation and facilitation have to be provided; therefore the overall goal of SVEEP in the upcoming Bihar Assembly Election would be to reach out to each and every voter through information, motivations, motivation (IMF). The idea is to enhance the level of awareness levels, especially amongst the freshly eligible youth, uneducated, residents of far-flung, inaccessible and remote areas, socially and economically weaker and deprived sections of society. In addition to this, motivational measures shall be provided for the citizens who are apathetic, skeptical, dis-enthused, disinterested, to participate in the electoral process followed by the friendliest facilitation for registration and subsequently voting during elections. Moreover, to ensure everyone on the electoral roll exercise his or her franchise voluntarily and passionately, the office of the chief electoral officer would create enabling environment in the state through effective steering of partnership, resource mobilizations, conducive law and order, confidence building measures through deployment of para-military forces. The findings of the baseline survey helped us understand the underlying reasons for under registration, last mile problems in up-dation of electoral rolls, and low voter turn-out and to identify the demographics of elector-segments with lower electoral participation so that suitable interventions can be mounted and their impact assessed. Hence, in order to ensure Greater Participation for a Stronger Democracy, the SVEEP programme in Bihar, as it is being envisaged, shall be initiated in a manner that it covers the last mile, where issues like healthy and complete electoral rolls, urban apathy, gender gap in participation and youth indifference to the electoral process would be tackled. For this to happen, voter education holds the key. The office of the CEO therefore has decided to bring Voter education to the center table of election management and allocates in the process necessary priority and resources. It is felt that Voter education should be imparted through specific and targeted interventions, backed by situation analysis at micro level. In order to achieve the above mentioned goal in the upcoming Elections in Bihar the SVEEP Plan shall adopt three (3) pronged strategy using two communications approaches

- 360 degree Media Campaign Approach

- Information, Motivation and Facilitation (IMF) approach

The three pronged strategy adopted under SVEEP plan will cover following strategic measures ( as per the graph below) in a planned manners to inform, motivate and facilitate the electors for enhanced elector participations in Bihar

1. Summary Revision ( and Continuous Updations)

2. Information, Educations and Motivations

3. Voters Facilitations

1. Summary Electoral Roll Revision

The Election Commission in Bihar will organize special summary revision of electoral rolls

of Parliamentary constituencies on specified dates as the qualifying date. All those who

are 18 years on January 1 next year are eligible to submit applications for inclusion of

their names in the electoral roll. A larger number of applications are usually filled for

deletion, correction, and change in the address within a constituency. Trainings were

imparted to all the booth level officers, sensitizing them on the important issu

to roll revision. The Electoral Registration officer was made responsible for the

preparation of electoral rolls for an Assembly Constituency which itself is the roll for the

Parliamentary Constituency in so far as that Assembly Segment is conc

2. Enabling Environment through Voter's Facilitations

Summary Electoral Roll Revision

Commission in Bihar will organize special summary revision of electoral rolls





imparted to all the booth level officers, sensitizing them on the important issu



Parliamentary Constituency in so far as that Assembly Segment is concerned.

2. Enabling Environment through Voter's Facilitations

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Commission in Bihar will organize special summary revision of electoral rolls





imparted to all the booth level officers, sensitizing them on the important issues relating



erned.

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In order to create an enabling environment for electors and enhance the supply side

various voters facilitation measures such as provision of basic minimum facilities (BMF),

voter slip distribution, online registration, complaint facilities, GIS based polling station

location facility, Web-based search facility, State help line number 1950 and SMS based

information facility-56677 have been made operational in the state.

3. Increasing Electoral Participation through Information, Motivation and Facilitations

(IMF)

A. Information

To induce masses to be a part of the electoral system, it is important to provide them with information regarding the how, when and where of it. Imparting information is a prerequisite to help the public become electors, and subsequently, for these electors to become voters.

Voters need to be served information mainly in two phases or stages:

• Prior to election announcement • After announcement of election

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Information Prior to Announcement of Elections

The Electoral Roll has remained the basic document for conduct of elections in India. The Representation of the People Act 1951 allows only those people to vote whose name is on the Electoral Rolls. All Indian citizens above the age of 18 years can be on these rolls in the constituencies where they ordinarily reside.

Preparation and Revision of Rolls

Electoral Rolls are prepared or revised, on the basis of a qualifying date; in India this date is ordinarily the first day of January in any year. During this period the SVEEP programme focused on providing voters information on:

• Why voters should register themselves on the voters’ list • Benefits of registration • Time and dates of registration • Online and physical locations where the registration process is being carried out • How registration is done • How to correct details of those already registered • How voters may change their place of residence on the Electoral Roll if they

have shifted their residence/address • Fact that having an EPIC does not mean one is registered on the voters’ list

This period also provides information on how registration on voters’ list prevents electoral abuse (Challenged votes, bogus voting etc.) and information for voters to verify their details such as:

• Where will the addition and deletion lists be displayed • How to challenge the displayed lists • Where will the list be displayed for voters to check their names • How will the lists be used on election day • How to read and interpret the lists

In an Intensive Revision of the Electoral Roll, a fresh roll is prepared, and under this, an enumerator visits from house to house and obtains details of the electors, after which a draft roll is published, on which claims and objections are invited. After settlement of these claims and objections, a final Electoral Roll is published. However, we normally don’t see intensive revision of rolls these days. What is seen most often is an exercise of Summary Revision; this is done every year, mostly in the months of September and October. This does not involve house to house survey. This involves having Designated Officers (DOs) sit at polling stations to receive claims and objections on the existing draft roll. This provides an opportunity to a newly eligible person, who has attained eligibility on or before the qualifying date, to get his/her name enrolled in the Electoral Roll. The names of those who have shifted out or are dead, are to be deleted and those who have migrated in are to be included in the rolls. Quite often, a door to door survey has also been ordered as part of Summary Revision. The period of claims and objections is usually 15 to 30 days. After disposal of claims and objections, the final rolls are published. In this connection, claims have also to be understood as an intention to be enrolled/ registered as voter.

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SVEEP is intensified during the claims/objection period so that enrolment is maximised. Enrolment drive by using SVEEP measures simply means mobilizing claims from all eligible citizens. However, the need for outreach is equally important for correction and modification of citizens’ details on the roll. In between revisions, any person can make a claim or objection (apply to be registered or have details corrected or shifted) to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO). This is called continuous updation. The process of continuous updation is stopped during an election from the last date of filing nominations till the completion of that election. Continuous updation are valuable as they provide a window for those citizens who could not be covered by a Special/Summary Revision. When gaps remain in the Electoral Roll even after a Revision, the SVEEP programme spreads the outreach net during continuous updation to fill such gaps.

Information after Announcement of Elections

During this period the SVEEP, communication focuses on information to facilitate increased turnout on poll day. Various information that will be provided during this phase of SVEEP are as follows:

Time and Date of elections: Voting may be done in phases and the State may have several phases under which the different PCs or ACs shall be voting.

Location to Vote: Due to rationalization of PS, several voters would have to vote in new locations and hence, information regarding the same is provided, particularly in urban areas.

Special voting services: Certain services are provided for various categories of voters. The services include:

• Postal ballots and proxy voting for service voters • Postal ballots or Election Duty Certificate (EDC) for polling personnel, security

personnel and other staff on duty on poll day • Tendered Votes • Ramps at PS for differently-abled voters • Use of braille on EVMs for visually challenged voters • Separate queues for male and female voters • Two female voters to be permitted to vote after every male voter • Priority for senior citizens and differently-abled voters • Facilities for women with children in arms

Documents required: Information regarding documents to prove identity and qualification to vote is very critical and is disseminated widely and frequently. This information is particularly emphasized for first time voters, nomads and migrants, homeless persons etc. How to Cast Vote on EVM: Information about the polling process and also provisions for tendered vote, challenged vote, and provision for exercising voting right by choosing None of the Above (NOTA)3 option.

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Polling and Poll Day Security Measures: This information aims at confidence building among the voters by giving details on observers, MCC, helpline numbers, security measures in place, videographers, contact numbers of control rooms and police stations etc. List of Contesting candidates: Information regarding the final list of contesting candidates is posted on the notice board outside the Returning Officer’s (RO) office. Wide publicity via the press is also carried out about the candidates who are contesting elections. Affidavits with the candidates’ declarations are also scanned and uploaded online, after the candidates have been finalized, which are used to good effect by the media and CSOs.

Code of conduct: Extensive circulation and dissemination of the code of conduct among citizens assist in reducing conflicts and violations during the election. Hence, they need to be aware of what to expect from the political parties. Tendered vote: This is the procedure which is to be followed if an elector finds that another person has already voted in the elector’s name. None of the Above (NOTA) Option: The last button on the EVM is NOTA, which a voter can press if s/he does not wish to vote for any of the contesting candidates. Informed and ethical voting: Information about the aspects that are considered as corrupt practices or electoral offences besides promoting informed and ethical voting. B. Motivation

The task of enthusing and inspiring the disinterested and alienated citizens and addressing their apathy and skepticism is imperative for greater electoral participation. Thus, it is crucial to associate a sense of pride with the right and duty of exercising one’s franchise. State Icons

Brand Ambassadors (State Icons) have proven that being a public figure can be a powerful tool in mobilizing the support necessary to improve the public cause and ensure their basic human rights. Celebrity has the ability to reach specific audiences, including young voters. Therefore, identifying the ability of inspirational personalities to establish an authentic connection with the masses, the office of the CEO/DEO’s will associate itself with renowned Indians from various fields who enjoyed national and regional appeal and shall appoint them as State Icons to motivate voters. Appeal by the Dr A.P.J Kalam, Sh.M.S.Dhoni , Ms Saina Nehwal and M C Mary Kom as national icon will be distributed to all the DEO’s. Bihar has already been using their appeals and photographs (in through Posters and Hoardings) both before elections for registration and during elections for voting.

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Innovative and Creative Physical Events and Activities

Moreover, to motivate Voters variety of innovative physical events and activities may be taken up under the SVEEP for greater mobilization and enhanced participations. • Competitions like drawing, debates, declamations, quiz in educational institutions on elections and voting and activities like local and folk art competitions targeting rural women • Song writing competitions and rock festivals in public places to interest urban youth • Sporting events like kite flying, motor rallies, cricket tournaments, wrestling events, marathon runs • Mass mobilization events like rallies, human chains, and candle light vigils are utilised with good effect • Pledge to vote by masses in educational institutions, Gram Sabha, gatherings and special events • Entertainment shows using the medium of street plays, magic shows, fashion shows to generate awareness • Flash mobs in malls, celebrity endorsements, online quizzes targeting urban populace • Mock polls and dummy PS are effectively used to engage with people

Moreover, in order to increase electoral participation, several innovative activities in

planned manners will be under taken at the state and district level. These innovations

shall focus on strategies that apply targeted activities through strategic interventions. In

each of the areas mentioned below, many new initiative and innovations shall be done

at Panchayat, Block, District and state level.

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11.0. SVEEP APPROACH

360 Approaches

The objective of SVEEP is to maximize the Public Engagement in the Electoral processes

hence a targeted SVEEP strategy may be designed to provide reliable and timely

information to the public at all points of interaction and all aspects of life. The approach

therefore should be to reach out to a large numbers of the population using strategic

communication approaches involving mass media, mid and outdoor media,

interpersonal communications. While each medium is distinct and serves an individual

purpose, they are inter-related and together form a holistic package. The process may

be carried out at all points of public interactions right from Panchayat, District and State

and National level

360 Degree SVEEP strategy in Bihar may cover a wide range of activities and

interventions targeted towards specific individuals and groups. The main objective of

the plan is to reach out these individuals/groups to bridge the gaps in registration and

participations at each polling Station most available and popular communications

methods. The strategy may also localize the way in which messages are given and the

means of delivery using ‘multichannel led’ activities that include the use of various

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mass media channels of communication (e.g., television, radio and print) and more

localized ‘folk’ media and IPC to reinforce messages. One to one communication is

highly effective in conveying empathy and respect for democracy, addressing specific

concerns of the electors, and reinforcing messages in the context of the challenges

faced by the individuals/groups.

360 Degree SVEEP Campaign shall inform, educate and persuade primary audiences to

enroll themselves and their families in the electoral roll and participate in the upcoming

Assembly Election in Bihar and its benefits accruing from investing in right democratic

engagements. It will take into account the barriers and variables related to mindset,

apathy and indifference towards electoral participations. The focus of any

communication activity should be on awareness, sensitization, motivation and

sustained practice of healthy behavior by following healthy behaviors. The medium to

be used for will depend on the need, significance and availability in the geographical

and administrative setting.

Therefore SVEEP activities in the Bihar Assembly Elections may be guided by the

following strategies at Panchayat, Block, District and State level to ensure greatest

enrollment and electoral participations:-

• Strategy 1: Use of TV ,Radio and Newspapers for specific target oriented and

timely messages, to ensure maximum reach of the campaign in a cost-effective

way

• Strategy 2: Identification of existing strategic points such as Anganwadi centers,

PHC ,cinema halls, railway stations, Panchayat Bhawans, banks, Post offices,

Govt office, ATM, to reach large number of people through posters/ hoardings/

wall paintings.

• Strategy 3: Extensive use of IPC (BLO’s, BLA’s and BAG’s grassroots workers and

activists) and mid-media through Publicity Vans/mikes/ DVD/CD. This strategy

may be implemented during election period.

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• Strategy 4: Leverage of existing social and community networks Jeevika, NYK,

NSS, NCC, Scout and Guide, Video on Wheels, Rath Yatra, rallies, festivals, Mela

and cultural practices to disseminate key information's more widely.

• Strategy 5- Social Media like FB, YouTube, Tweeters, Portals to address urban

apathy etc

• Strategy 6- Resource Mobilizations through inter-department coordination’s and

partnership with CSR and CSO’s

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12.0. SVEEP Funding

The funds for the SVEEP programme, since its launch in 2009 have been met mainly from the State budget as the planning and implementation takes place at the State and district level. In the year 2013-14, Election Commission of India disbursed funds centrally to the tune of Rs 168.5 million to augment the funds available with the election machinery in the States and the districts, to further strengthen the programme implementation especially in view of the Lok Sabha election 2014. The massive SVEEP programme is implemented at national, State, district and booth level. While the programme is most visible during the election period when information dissemination and outreach activities are at its peak, and during the period of Summary Revision followed immediately by the National Voters’ Day, on ground the SVEEP programme runs throughout the year in form of electoral education through curricula and extracurricular activities in educational institutions, as part of the adult literacy programme and also through edutainment content in popular children comics, comic strips in newspapers, animation films and radio programmes for community viewing in villages, board games and e-kiosk games etc. Accordingly the funds required to sustain such a programme is huge. Besides the budget allocated by the government, part of the fund requirement are also met through indirect sponsorships by public sector institutions, corporate houses, media houses and civil society groups who extend their offices, stationeries, corporate space, media space and services for voter education and also partner with ECI in enrolment of their employees and their family members. The strength of the SVEEP programme being partnership based enterprise; government funding would always remain only a part of the whole.

Planning and Implementations

anning and Implementations

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anning and Implementations

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13.0 Planning and Implementations

There are several barriers in the smooth enrolment of citizens and citizens would like services to reach out to them. Broad awareness does not lead to behavior change for registration or voting. Cultural barriers are rampant and require counseling and consultation. • In certain areas, the awareness need to be linked to freedom from fear and intimidation, supported by police administration. • Inspirational personalities are effective motivators; more so when they are from the same region. • Inducement and bribe-free voting now need much higher attention considering the magnitude of the problem. • SVEEP has worked in all types of settings, though differentially: North-South, East-West, North East, urban-rural, insurgency affected-peaceful, and irrespective of low turnout or high turnout past. • SVEEP is sensitively dependent on leadership and ownership at the level of SVEEP nodal officer and the DEOs; where it was higher, the results have been better. • SVEEP needs a persistent follow up as it is yet to acquire a mandatory character for

election managers While mass media generates the enabling environment, actual

electoral participation behaviours comes through contact, persuasion, counseling etc.

Moreover, supply side measures are extremely important, hence the ‘F’ in IMF i.e.

Facilitation needs to be made stronger all the time

Hence, in order to facilitate and operationalize SVEEP plan in Bihar, a SVEEP core

committee shall be constituted to steer the voter awareness activities in the entire state.

The State SVEEP Core Committee headed by the CEO shall supervise the

implementation of the SVEEP Plan in the entire state. The Committee shall have

representation from various Department, Agencies and organizations. The partner

departments like Education Department, IPRD, Art Culture and Youth Department,

Department of Social Welfare, Doordarshan, Akashwani, COMFED, Health Department,

Tourism Department etc. Government departments which provided help under CSR

included Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam, Bihar Educational Infrastructure Development

Corporation, Bihar Stare Beverage Corporation; Building Construction Department will

be contacted and engaged in SVEEP activities Panchayat, Block, District and state

Level. For an inter-personal communication at the grassroots the field level contacts

may be pursued through partnership with JEEVIKA, State Literacy Mission, Mahila Vikas

Nigam, Mahila Samakhya. Frontline Health workers like Asha ANM, Mamta workers and

Anganwadi of the education and health department respectively. The motive affirmed

shall be to reach to every elector and positively flood them with the awareness and

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motivation messages either directly or indirectly in such a manner that they

automatically get inclined to exercise their franchise.

The Office of CEO, Bihar shall also engage key mobile subscribers nder CSR to create

awareness for electoral participation among their customers through bulk SMS

motivating and informing electors regarding polling day, time etc on the day of poll

and a day before will be sent. The slogan of message on a day before election will be

developed and disseminated as " "Bina kisi pralobhan ke bhaymukt hokar vote karen"

and the slogan on day of poll day "Humne to vote diya kya aapne vote dala ya nahi”

will be shared to electors. Moreover in partnership with the BSNL (a government mobile

subscriber) caller tunes would be assigned with ethical messages to motivate

users/electors to exercise their right of franchise. Special caller tune motivating electors

"to vote" will inspire the people to vote. Cell phone's caller tune will be used to reach to

the huge population of Bihar.

Planned Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) Activities

• Preparation and implementations of SVEEP plan for Assembly Election 2015

• Preparation and Dissemination of the SVEEP Material for Assembly Election 2015

• Summary Revision Campaign for Voters Registration, and error free Roll

• State SVEEP Core Committee headed by CEO to supervise implementation of

the SVEEP Plan; Committee with members from various department, orgs

• District Core Committee chaired by DEO’s to supervise the implementation of

the SVEEP Plan in the district implemented through Nodal Officer in charge of

SVEEP at each district

• Network of partnership to be developed at State and District level (Frameworks

of partnerships issued by the Commission in relation to CSOs, PSU/Corporates

and Media) including Partnerships with CSOs, PSU/Corporates and Media

• Resource Mobilizations through inter-agency efforts and Corporate Social

Responsibility

• Research- (KABBP) baseline and end line survey, for the Identification of 10% PS

where voting was least in LS 2014

• Meeting and Workshop with political parties, media, and civil society

organizations

• Celeb Engagement /Selection of state Icons for mass awareness

• Facilitations like Toll Free Helpline/ Sankalp Patra/ Appeal Letters/BMF/ etc

• Identification and Documentation of the Best Practices

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Material Development

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14.0. Outreach Material Development

In material development, office of the Chief Electoral officer and the DEO’s will first

consider the archive of approved material compiled by the SVEEP Division of the

Commission which is available on the ECI website. The office of CEO in Bihar would take

necessary steps for further Inventory Building on Voters’ Information and Awareness

software for the state: outreach material developed for Special Revision, National

Voter’s Day would be extensively used, after suitable modification,

• For preparation of software to be used in the State Assembly elections, the

office of CEO would set up an expert Committee at State level for quality

check and control of content comprising of Heads of AIR & DD among others.

• Survey findings would be utilized for designing the campaigning material and

deciding the media vehicles for dissemination.

• Regional and/or local icons will be identified by the office of CEO with the

support of ECI and promotional material for voting would be prepared availing

their services, after getting approval of Commission on the content (Messages),

in addition to the National Icon of ECI, VIZ. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former

president of India, Sh. M.S. Dhoni, Cricketer, Ms Saina Nehwal, Ms. Mary Com,

Olympic Medalists and Shri Aamir Khan, Actor and the regional Icons already

approved by Commission.

• Material on voter awareness to be given to partner CSOs/media houses for

wider dissemination.

• Under ECI-NLMA MoU, Sakshar Bharat workers (NLMA) shall carry out electoral

literacy programme besides helping BLOs for enrolment during continuous

updation. DEOs may also disseminate their outreach material through these

Literacy workers.

• All messages used in the elections in Bihar will ensure the approval of the

Commission, if these are not earlier vetted.

The following URL shall be referred for downloading the material

http://ceobihar.nic.in/sveep.html

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Key SVEEP Activities to be

undertaken in Bihar

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15.0 Key SVEEP activities to be undertaken in Bihar

15.1 Voters Registration

For 100% registration of all eligible citizens, Exclusive Youth, Women and Urban-specific

campaign have been designed and rolled out in Bihar at every Polling Station through

the support of the BAG’s/BLO’s and public meeting, reading out Electoral Rolls,

distributing Pamphlets, putting Posters. Office of the CEO in Bihar would continue

publicity through following medium to ensure error-free electoral roll for the upcoming

Assembly Election in Bihar

• Print Media, Electronic Channels, Radio, Internet and Mobile Phones • Through CEO and DEO Portals • Digital Banner Publicity through FB, YouTube, etc • Piggybacking on major grass-root level government programs/ institutions • Call Centre’s at State and district levels

Partner Departments and the CSO’s will be engaged to assist to the Electoral

Registration, facilitation and participation through Officers (EROs) and the Booth Level

Officer in obtaining applications, photographs from the eligible and new voters in the

polling station area and ensuring that electoral rolls are accurate and periodically

updated.

15.2. Baseline Survey of Knowledge, Attitude, Behavior, Belief and Practices (KABBP)

As per the direction of the Election Commission of India the office of the CEO office has entrusted the task of carrying out a study entitled, 'Baseline Survey of Knowledge, Attitude, Behavior, Belief and Practices (KABBP)' to Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna (CIMP). The broad objective of this study is to map the driving factors responsible for the voter turnout and also to identify the reasons acting behind the low and high voter turnout during recently held general and assembly elections have witnessed. The findings of the study shall provide some useful insight in determining the strategic intervention for voter turnout in the ongoing elections.

15.3. Resource Mobilizations through inter-agency efforts and Corporate Social

Responsibility

In order to increase electoral participation through outreach programs under SVEEP

and achieve maximum voter turnout the office of the CEO may engage various state

level agencies/departments/Public and Private organizations. These

departments/agencies will be actively involved in providing technical and financial

support to implement SVEEP activities in almost all the polling constituencies in the state.

Various other agencies will be involved in providing basic minimum facilities and

publicizing SVEEP material at state HQ's, districts and village Panchayat level through

various outreach activities.

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15.4 Application of Technological tools like Website, SMS based applications for Voters

Facilitations

Search facility in Voter List shall be provided through CEO’s website and also through

SMS. Similarly facility for searching location of the polling station may be provided on

the CEO’s website. Voters may avail details of their Electoral Roll Information through

SMS facility by sending a text message ‘ELE (space) (EPIC number) to 5667. The website

of the Chief Electoral Officer, Bihar may also provide facility to electors to search their

names from the voter list. Electors may use the facility to check their polling stations on

GIS maps, details of phase wise dates of voting, alternative documents, availability of

basic facilities at polling stations, names of their BLO's, contact of ROs, EROs, candidates

affidavits, daily press releases, all the awareness and motivations videos, audios and

other materials prepared at the ECI and at the state level under SVEEP etc.

15.5. SMS based poll day mechanism

SMS based poll day mechanism for accuracy; transparency and accountability have

been initiated and managed from the HQ's for obtaining voter turnout on hourly basis in

Lok Sabha 2014 elections. The process is used to obtain hourly updates regarding the

male/female vote cast from every registered polling booth. The mechanism will be

replicated in Assembly Elections in Bihar by establishing monitoring cells at every control

room which will facilitate and monitor presiding officer/ sector magistrate to send timely

SMS.

15.6. Campaign though Social Media (like Face book, Tweeters and YouTube)

CEO Bihar will make an extensive use of social media to spread awareness especially

amongst young voters. Social media tools like Face book, Twitter, YouTube etc will be

used to encourage young and urban voters to exercise their fundamental right. The key

objective behind the social media campaign is to enroll new voters 18-19 years of age

and to minimize the low turn-out at the polling booths. The online campaign has played

crucial role in enhancing greater youth electoral participation for a stronger and

participatory democracy. Gradually, the face book page of the CEO is increasingly

becoming popular in the state with around 2523 likes around 409 users talking about it.

15.7. Resource Mobilizations

Creative and financial resources to be mobilized for carrying SVEEP activities in the

state. In addition to this artists, content developers, cultural troupes etc to be engaged

from private and government departments to support the office of the CEO in Bihar for

voter awareness, education and motivation. Agencies like Doordarshan & All India

Radio to be pursued to provide free of cost airtime to broadcast TV and Radio

programs on their channels. PSUs/Corporate may also be contacted to provide services

such as print space, airtime, content etc through sponsorships and financial resource to

carry out poster and hoarding campaign. Similarly, Departments like Railways, Airports,

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Banks, Post office etc may also support the campaign in Bihar through infrastructure

support for the dissemination and display of outreach materials,

Following Departments to be pursued for printing and disseminating voter’s awareness

messages through Hoardings, Posters etc

- Bihar State Beverage Corporation - Bihar Rajya Pool Nirman Nigam - Bihar Road Construction Corporation - Bihar Educational Infrastructure Development Corporation - Bihar Medical Infrastructure Corporation - Bihar Building Construction Corporation 15.8 Media Plan

The office of the CEO has been rigorously involved in building media momentum

through media insertions, press advertisements. Key information’s regarding different

phases, process, dates, and alternative documents to be advertisement to inform and

educate the electors. Press releases and Press conference on daily basis to be held to

update voters on daily basis.

Following media activities have been planned at the state and district level

• Regular Press Conferences and Press Releases

• Partnership with Media agencies such as Hindustan Times etc

• Media Roundtable and Workshops

15.9. Helpline

Helpline to be set up to facilitate the voters regarding their election related queries-The

toll-free helpline set up by the Commission to address queries on voter enrolment has

been of much use to callers, as IN LS 2014 around 6000 calls were answered. The office

of the CEO in Bihar shall make effective use of Helpline numbers for voters facilitations

wherein an elector can dial the toll free number 1800-345-1950 and get any information

relating to elections and electoral roll. Several enrolled and aspiring voters have dialed

the helpline numbers with questions on the enrolment process, change of address and

correction of mistakes during the summary revision campaign in Bihar.

15.10. Mobile Subscriber

The Office of CEO, Bihar may engage all the key mobile subscribers like BSNL, UNINOR,

AIRCEL, AIRTEL, and Reliance under CSR to create awareness for electoral participation

among their customers through bulk SMS. The CEO office may also use its existing

mobile database under RTPS/SANJIVANI (running under Govt schemes) to send the

messages amongst electors in Bihar informing elector's regarding polling day, time etc

on the day of poll and a day before have been sent. The slogan of message on a day

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before election used in LS 2014 such as” "Bina kisi pralobhan ke bhaymukt hokar

vote"and the slogan on day of poll was"Humne to vote diya kya aapne vote dala ya

nahi” may again be disseminated in upcoming Bihar Elections.

Moreover, in partnership with mobile subscribers caller-tunes may be assigned with

ethical messages to motivate electors. Special caller tune motivating elector's "to vote"

may be used to inspire the people to vote, based on that as soon as one calls any of

these BSNL numbers, the song "voting is your right" starts to play instead of the usual ring

tones. Cell phone's caller tune as the latest strategy implemented by CEO Bihar reaches

a huge population of Bihar

15.11 Celebrity Engagement /State Icons

State shall identify and engage state icon /celebrity as the brand ambassador to

mobilize youths and women. These celebrity swill participate in various events at various

locations across the state particularly colleges and spread the message of democratic

engagements. Shrimati Sharda Sinha who is famous folk singer and Padma Shri

awardee will be engaged to motivate citizens to vote and become an active citizen.

Shrimati Sinha who is legendary voice sang in around six local and regional dialects to

motivate electorates to cast their votes during the ensuing general elections. The song

recorded in her voice in Maithili, Bhojpuri, Magahi, Angika and Hindi will be used as icon

in advertisements on radio and television to spread awareness among the voters. Her

melodious voice draws the attention of the voters.

15.12. Partnership

In order to expand our outreach program and maximize the turnout the office of CEO may engage various state level agencies, government departments and civil society organizations to disseminate messages targeting voters for greater electoral participations. These departments/agencies may be actively enagged in publicizing SVEEP material at state HQ's, districts and village Panchayat level through various outreach activities. Departments that were involved in the process were:

• Department of Art, Culture & Youth

• Social Welfare Department

• Department of Health • Education Department • Department of General Administrations

• Information and Public Relation Department • Women Development Corporation • Partnership with Radio Channels/ TV/Cable networks • Cinema and Cable Networks • Railway, Aviation, Finance, Postal • Jeevika • Mahila Samakya and Women Development Corporations • IPRD ( Doordarshan, Air , FM channels)

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15.13. Messages on Milk Packets/Parlours in partnership with COMFED

The office of the Chief Electoral officer in Bihar with the support of COMFED, carry out

mass awareness campaign at all milk parlors, milk-distribution vehicle in the state. Key

messages regarding electoral participation shall be printed on the packet of milk to

inform andeducate voters.

15.14. Messages through RTPS, Sanjeevni and other Govt related

RTPS and SANJIVANI (Govt schemes) services may be used to send the messages

amongst electors in Bihar. In LS 2014 approx 3.5 crores SMS's informing elector's

regarding polling day, time etc on the day of poll and a day before were sent. Office

of the CEO in Bihar shall replicate this measure in Bihar Assembly Elections. The slogans

of message on a day before the election shall be " "Bina kisi pralobhan ke bhaymukt

hokar vote" and the slogan on day of poll” Humne to vote diya kya aapne vote dala ya

nahi?

15.15. Reading the Sankalpa Patra

All the awareness campaign in villages and (other strategic locations) at Panchayat

block, District and State levels shall conclude by ceremony of "Taking Oath

Sankalpa. Moreover, Special SHG meeting will be organized

throughout the state in which Jeevika workers shall take vows for voting and exerting

their right in Bihar Assembly Elections.

Pic-Reading of Sankalp Patra and Oath taking ceremonies to motivate

Patra and taking Oath

All the awareness campaign in villages and (other strategic locations) at Panchayat

block, District and State levels shall conclude by ceremony of "Taking Oath

Moreover, Special SHG meeting will be organized before polling day


their right in Bihar Assembly Elections.

Reading of Sankalp Patra and Oath taking ceremonies to motivate Young girls and

SHG members in Bihar

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All the awareness campaign in villages and (other strategic locations) at Panchayats,

block, District and State levels shall conclude by ceremony of "Taking Oath” and taking

before polling day


Young girls and

Pic- Sankalpa Patra

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Special Events & Innovative

Activities

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16.(a) Special Events and Competitions on the focused theme through (Debate, Marathon, Rallies Songs, Dramas, slogans,

cartoons, posters, plays, Suggestion/ideas) etc) to motivate target voters

August August September September October

Day Ist Fortnightly 2nd Fortnightly Ist Fortnightly 2nd Fortnightly Whole month

Focus Women Differently Abled, Homeless, Transgender

Service Voters School Children-the future electors

Migrant Labour & Factory Workers

Pre-

activity

Folk art, Debate Competitions on the focused theme through (songs, slogans, cartoons, posters, plays, Suggestion/ideas etc)

Activities Folk Art competitions

among women

-Series of Folk art competitions may be held on specified dates by mobilizing key stakeholders, identifying primary, secondary and tertiary audience). - Consistent /Tailored Messages be created targeting women in specific and all the electors in general. -The messages may also focus on Importanceof vote (Why vote), Check name on voter list, identification documents, Dos and Don’ts, Inducement

Song and slogan

Competition among

organized and non-

organized labour

segment

-Series of Song and slogan Competition may be held on specified dates by mobilizing key stakeholders, identifying primary, secondary and tertiary audience). -The messages may also focus on Importanceof vote (Why vote), Check name on voter list, identification documents, Dos and Don’ts, Inducement Free Voting, Informed Voting, NOTA, The

Marathon runs in

cantonments for

service personnel

-Series of “Marathon runs in cantonments for service personnel” be held on specified dates by mobilizing key stakeholders, identifying primary, secondary and tertiary audience). Consistent /Tailored Messages be created targeting service personnel specifically and all the electors in general. -The messages may also focus on Importanceof vote

Debate and

declamation contests

in School

-Series of “Debate and declamation contests in School” be held on specified dates by mobilizing key stakeholders, identifying primary, secondary and tertiary audience). -Consistent /Tailored Messages be created targeting School Children-the future electors/ electors of 18-19 years of age) and all the electors in general. -The messages may also focus on Importanceof vote (Why vote), Check

Rallies and

Walkathons

-Series of “Rallies and Walkathons” be held on specified dates by mobilizing key stakeholders, identifying primary, secondary and tertiary audience). - Consistent /Tailored Messages be created targetingDifferently Abled, Homeless, Transgender, youth for example boys and girls in College Students, cultural troupe, Campus ambassadors, etc. And populations in general

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Free Voting, Informed Voting, NOTA, The right of secrecy of vote to be publicized, Electoral system, itsfunctioning and functionaries, How to vote, ethicalvoting to be emphasized -The messages may also focus on “registration, inclusion of photo in the roll, issue of EPIC and to exercise their right to vote”, surrender of duplicate, linking the ID with Aadhar . - Different Folk art forms be identified based on region, language and cultural viability by the DEO’s of respective districts - Art Culture and Youth Department ( NYK, NSS ) may be be consulted for necessary support in identifying the “ Folk artists and groups” and may be

right of secrecy of vote to be publicized, Electoral system, itsfunctioning and functionaries, How to vote, ethicalvoting to be emphasized - Art Culture and Youth Department ( NYK, NSS, Nehru Yuva Kendra, NCC, NSS, Rotary Club,Red Cross ) may be be consulted for necessary support in identifying the “ Folk artists and groups” and may be engaged in the campaign for training of groups in the -State Literacy Mission, Frontline Health workers like Anganwadi workers, Jeevika members, ANM, ASHA, Aaganwadi, Doctors, nurses, Community Health Workers, Community Health Extension Workers, traditional healers and local

(Why vote), Check name on voter list, identification documents, Dos and Don’ts, Inducement Free Voting, Informed Voting, NOTA, The right of secrecy of vote to be publicized, Electoral system, itsfunctioning and functionaries, How to vote, ethicalvoting to be emphasized - Art Culture and Youth Department may be be consulted for necessary support in identifying the “ Folk artists and groups” and may be engaged in the campaign for training of groups in the - NYK, NSS, Nehru Yuva Kendra, NCC, NSS, Rotary Club, Red Cross to actively engaged

name on voter list, identification documents, Dos and Don’ts, Inducement Free Voting, Informed Voting, NOTA, The right of secrecy of vote to be publicized, Electoral system, itsfunctioning and functionaries, How to vote, ethicalvoting to be emphasized - Art Culture and Youth Deptmay consulted for necessary support in identifying the “ Folk artists and groups” and may be engaged in the campaign for training of groups in the -State Literacy Mission, Frontline Health workers like Anganwadi workers, Jeevika members, ANM, ASHA, Aaganwadi, Doctors, nurses, Community Health Workers, Community Health Extension Workers, traditional healers and

-The messages may also focus on Importanceof vote (Why vote), Check name on voter list, identification documents, Dos and Don’ts, Inducement Free Voting, Informed Voting, NOTA, The right of secrecy of vote to be publicized, Electoral system, itsfunctioning and functionaries, How to vote, ethicalvoting to be emphasized - Art Culture and Youth Department may be consulted for necessary support in identifying the “ Folk artists and groups” and may be engaged in the campaign for training of groups in the

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engaged in the campaign for training of groups in the -State Literacy Mission, Frontline Health workers like Anganwadi workers, Jeevika members, ANM, ASHA, Aaganwadi, Doctors, nurses, Community Health Workers, Community Health Extension Workers, traditional healers and local governance bodies Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRI),SHG’s be mobilized and engaged in participating in the competitions - Various civil society organizations working for the empowerment of women s( for example, Jeevika, Women and Development Corporations, MahilaSamakhya will be consulted and

governance bodies Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRI),SHG’s be mobilized and engaged in participating in the competitions - Various civil society organizations working for the empowerment of labours be engaged - NYK, NSS, Nehru Yuva Kendra, NCC, NSS, Rotary Club, Red Cross to actively engaged

-State Literacy Mission, Frontline Health workers like Anganwadi workers, Jeevika members, ANM, ASHA, Aaganwadi, Doctors, nurses, Community Health Workers, Community Health Extension Workers, traditional healers and local governance bodies Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRI),SHG’s be mobilized and engaged in participating in the competitions - Various civil society organizations working for the empowerment of labours be engaged

local governance bodies Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRI),SHG’s be mobilized and engaged in participating in the competitions - Various civil society organizations working for the empowerment of women s( for example, Jeevika, Women and Development Corporations, MahilaSamakhya will be consulted and enaged for wider participations and community mobilizations - NYK, NSS, Nehru Yuva Kendra, NCC, NSS, Rotary Club, Red Cross to actively engaged -State Literacy Mission, Frontline Health workers like Anganwadi workers, Jeevika members, ANM, ASHA, Aaganwadi, Doctors, nurses, Community Health Workers,

-State Literacy Mission, Frontline Health workers like Anganwadi workers, Jeevika members, ANM, ASHA, Aaganwadi, Doctors, nurses, Community Health Workers, Community Health Extension Workers, traditional healers and local governance bodies Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRI),SHG’s be mobilized and engaged in participating in the competitions - Various civil society organizations working for the empowerment of women s( for example, Jeevika, Women and Development Corporations, MahilaSamakhya will be consulted

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enaged for wider participations and community mobilizations)

Community Health Extension Workers, traditional healers and local governance bodies Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRI),SHG’s be mobilized and engaged in participating in the competitions - Various civil society

organizations working for the empowerment of labours be engaged

and enaged for wider participations and community mobilizations - NYK, NSS, Nehru Yuva Kendra, NCC, NSS, Rotary Club, Red Cross to actively engaged

Key

Messages

Key Message that may be disseminated via these activities

• Vote for your better future, future of your Country, State and Society. Go to exercise your right to elect by

voting.

• Any elector can check his/her name in the electoral roll in the office of BLO, AERO, ERO, DEO or on the

website of district and CEO, Bihar Elector will be motivated to vote free of lust, inducement, money, liquor

and muscle power or fear Citizens to be informed continuously about the major events

• Electors will be informed as well as trained about the NOTA facility in the ballot unit which will show their

unwillingness to vote for any standing candidate

• Electors will be informed on Electoral system, its functioning and functionaries, importance of vote, how to

vote, ethical voting to be emphasized The right of secrecy of vote to be publicized

• These messages may also focus on electoral registration, inclusion of photo in the roll, issue of EPIC and to

exercise their right to vote”, surrender of duplicate, linking

Pic- Nukkad Natak to motivate voters to participate in LS

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Nukkad Natak to motivate voters to participate in LS- 2014 Elections in Bihar

2014 Elections in Bihar

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16. (b) Folk Art competitions among women, young boys and girls and Migrant laborers to educate and motivate them to

participate in Electoral Democracy

Month August, September and October

Day 2nd Saturday and Sunday

Focus Women/Youth/ Migrants

Pre-activity Folk Art competitions among women, Young boys and girls and Migrant laborers

( Songs, slogans, cartoons, posters, plays, suggestion/ideas etc)

Activities Overall Goals: Booth Level Awareness Group (BAG’s) and BLO’s to be entrusted with the entire task of SVEEP at the village level mainly focusing on women, youth and migrants participation under the overall supervision of SVEEP Committee. The BAG’s may identify the “Folk artist/groups in village and undertake the awareness among the lectors about the importance of woman participation through series of performances at village, panchayat, blocks and district levels.

Key Stakeholders: ASHA, AWW, Village Health worker like FHW/MHW, Patwari, Gram Sevak, and Functionaries like Jeevika Workers, representation from Mahila Mandal and SHGs besides one or two eminent non-political person from the village/ DEO’s,ERO’s and AERO’s/ , Govt Departments, Media and Civil society organizations

Target Audience : Primary: All women and young girls, Young Boys and Girls and Migrant Laborers Secondary

Audience: All Electors ( including Men) and Tertiary : All key stakeholders at Panchayat, Block and District Levels

Key Message: Key Message should not only be around 'Right to Vote', but political participation, decision making process, political activism, political consciousness of womanetc. The Constitution of India removed gender inequalities among caste and gender, discrimination continues to be a widespread barrier to women's political participation, hence Women's participations/involvement in democratic electoral process is tied to the increasing demand for equal rights. A Consistent /Tailored Messages be created targeting women in specific and all the electors in general. These messages may focus on “ethical voting, electoral registration and to exercise their right to vote”, surrender of duplicate, linking the ID with Aadhar .

Key Activities: The traditional Bihar society comprises of art, dance, music, festivals, and fairs. Without these basic tenets, the culture of Bihar would be incomplete. As the tradition plays a major role in making Bihar’s culture, its folk music and folk dance is the testimony to the sentiment. Some popular Folk dances are: Sohrai Nach, Dhobi Nach, Manjhi, Jhumarnach, Gondnach, More Morni, Jitiyanach, Dom-Domin, Bhuiababa, Kathghorwa Nach, Rah baba, Jat jatin, Bamar nach, Jarni, Jhijhia, Natua nach, Gon nach. Bihar gave birth to many music legends like Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan, and Dhrupad singers like the Malliks (Darbhanga Gharana) and the Mishras (Bettiah Gharana). In the field of the Folk Songs

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another interesting thing about the Bihari music is that it has a very old tradition of folk songs, sung especially during important occasions, like marriage, birth ceremonies, festivals, etc. Padma Shri Sharda Sinha is the most famous Bihari folk singer. These folk songs are usually accompanied musical instruments like dholak, bansuri, tabla and harmonium. Bihar is also famous for its tradition of lively Holi songs 'Phagua', marked for its fun rhythms. Biraha songs, marked by extreme sadness originated in 19th century when many Biharis migrated to West Indies, Fiji and other British colonies as indentured labourers. Further, Theaters are part of Bihar culture. There are many traditional forms like Bidesia, Bihula- Sama Chakeva, Bisahari, Bahura-Gorin, Reshma-Chuharmal, Raja Salhesh, and Dom Kach, which originated in the Anga region of Bihar. Folk artist/groups in village and undertake the awareness among the Electors about the importance of woman participation through series of performances at village, panchayat, blocks and district levels based on the following four cultural regions

- Angika region

- Bhojpuri region

- Magadh region

- Maithili region

- Vajjika Region

Suggested Folk Art Forms

Folk Dances:

- Bidesia: This is a popular form of dance drama, originated in a twentieth century folk theatre and prevalent in the Bhojpuri-speaking region of Bihar.

- Jat-Jatin Dance: This is the most popular folk dance of North Bihar, namely in Mithila and Koshi region.

- umari Dance:

- Jumari Dance of Bihar: This is similar to that of "Garba performed in Gujarat". Only married women perform itis a folk dance of Mithilanchal of Bihar. As many other rituals that are performed by married women, it also signifies a good omen.

- Kajari: This is a song of rainy season. The popular melodious tune of Kajari songs produces a sweet sensation in body and it is sung from beginning of the Shravan month with the rhythmic note of rainy drops.

- Jhijhian dance: This is also related to rain but its objective is different. It is sung when there is no rain for a long time than its usual arrival.

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- Paika Dance: This is a dance of martial character. The Paika dance is performed with employing shield and sword. In the dance performance, skills & ability of the dancers in handling sword and shield is displayed. The dance reach at the climax with the fast beats produced by `Mandal`.

- Sohar-Khilouna Dance: This is a ceremonial dance to celebrate the pleasure of new birth in a family.

- Harvesting Dance: Agriculture is the main source of earning livelihood in Bihar. This fact is reflected in a better way from all kinds of folk arts

Folk Music: The classical form of the Indian music is already quite well known (for example, Bihar has produced musicians like Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan and dhrupad singers like the Malliks (Darbhanga Gharana) and the Mishras (Bettiah Gharana)) and the classical music in Bihar is but a form of the Hindustani classical music. This article deals with the folk culture of Bihar.The region's folk songs are associated with the various events in the life of an ordinary person. The historical ballads dealing with the heroic deeds of the freedom fighter Kunwar Singh have also been immortalized through folk songs in the plain tracts of Bihar. Religiosity is the pivot around which the music and amusements of the village.There are songs like sohar - performed during childbirth, sumangali - associated with wedding, ropnigeet - performed during the season of sowing paddy, katnigeet - performed during the paddy harvesting season, purbi, Fagua- Holi festival song, Ghato-Chaita & Chaiti is very popular in the month of Chait (Hindi calendar), bidesia, birha, kajari, irni/ birni, pachra, jhumar, jatsari, aalah, nirgun and samdaun. There is also the tradition of war songs called Beer Kunwa

Folk Dance and Theatre: Some forms of theatre with rich traditions are the Bidesia, Reshma-Chuharmal, Bihula-Bisahari, Bahura-Gorin, Raja Salhesh, Sama Chakeva, and Dom Kach. These theatre forms originate in the Anga region of Bihar. In Theatre, the quality and class of Kala Sangam’s play-productions established Satish Anand( apioneer of Hindi theatre personality of Bihar) and leading theatre groups of India. Patna became the one of the most active theatre centers of India from the 70's to the 90's. The outstanding and high class play production of Kala Sangam directed and designed by Satish Anand put Bihar on national theatre map.

Paintings: Mithila paintings are a style of Indian painting, practiced in the Mithila region of Bihar. Madhuban, in the Himalayan foothills of Mithila, is the home of the Madhubani paintings. Traditionally, on festive and religious occasions, and during social celebrations, the women of Mithila decorated their homes and courtyards with images that were vibrant, colourful, and deeply religious.

Pics:- Kirtan and Bhajan (

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Kirtan and Bhajan ( above) / Drumming for voters awareness ( below)

above) / Drumming for voters awareness ( below)

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Voters Facilitations

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17.0. Voters Facilitation

Greater participation of the public in elections can be guaranteed by making the process and procedures voter-friendly. The final step of the SVEEP strategy holds great importance as an informed, aware and motivated public, that is geared up to contribute to the democratic machinery needs to be complemented with measures that make their participation easier and smoother. There could be a risk of credibility loss if after generating demand, there is a shortfall in supply. Voter Facilitation Centres (VFCs), providing voter slips ahead of polls, separate queues for women and the aged, women polling officials to assist ( Women in Viel voters) , and increasing the number of PS so that every voter can reach one within two km are some of the popular facilitation measures. Hence, in Bihar the office of the CEO shall create an enabling environment combining

information, motivation and facilitation so that potential voters are fully engaged in the

process of democratic governance through effective electoral participation. In order

to create an enabling environment for voters in Bihar at village, block and district level

following activities shall be undertaken

- Forms 6, 7, 8 and 8A to be made available at prominent places including Banks and Post Offices having large footfall besides in all Colleges and Universities, and also in High Schools for newly eligible electors.

- Voters Registration and Education centers to be set up at strategies locations for

facilitation and awareness generation as well. The Centres should be supplied

education and awareness material in good quantity. Voters’ Facilitation Centres

will facilitate voters and provide requisite information and services like display of

Voter lists, issue of duplicate EPIC etc. Facilitation Booths may also set up at

strategic locations to assist voters.

- Special registration camps may be conducted in weekly haats, during festivals

and through mobile vans.

- Registration left-out Voters to continue till the last date of filing of nominations of

candidates under the provisions of continuous updating and the EROs and

AEROs would ensure the EPIC are issued to all those enrolled.

- Voters’ Help lines will be made functional launched in districts to facilitate the voters in getting right information on the electoral processes.

- Search facility in Voter List would be provided through CEO’s website and also through SMS. Similarly facility for searching location of the polling station would also be provided on the CEO’s website.

- EVM awareness/familiarization camps would be conducted at Village Panchayats, Haats, Bazaars, community Centres etc.

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- Voter Slip as per directions of the commission would be distributed among all

electors close to the polling day providing key information to electors and also serving as a reminder as well as an invitation.

- Apart from EPIC other identity proofs are allowed for voting and a list of such documents is released by the Election Commission of India well before the date of polling.

- Polling hours would also be extended to facilitate voters based on requirements

- Polling Stations will be made voter friendly through setting up of ramps, separate queue for women, facility like drinking water, toilets, shade and adequate lighting etc

- CEO’s/DEO shall set-up of more numbers of Polling Stations to facilitate voters to exercise their franchise without much inconvenience.

- Basic Minimum Facilities (BMF) - ramps, toilets, electricity, sheds and drinking water at every PS.DEOs to ensure that suitable and adequate arrangements are made for provision of drinking water, shed, toilets for women and other facilities at all Polling Stations as directed by the Commission from time to time, to make voting a friendly experience, including setting up of model polling stations equipped with necessary facilities.

- Model Polling Stations (MPS) established at various locations to provide

additional facilities to voters to make voting a pleasant experience.

- Separate queues for men and women at PS to facilitate women voters. Also old,

infirm and physically challenged voters are given priority in voting at polling booth.

- At each PS, an alphabetical list of electors may be displayed prominently which

will make the task of locating the elector’s serial number in the PS much easier.

- A basket of alternate photo identity documents that can be used for voting are

announced ahead of poll day. Wide publicity is given about these alternate documents to facilitate people to vote in the absence of EPIC.

- For every voter, Voter slips are delivered at the residence a few days ahead of

the poll day. These carry the name and details of the polling booth and serve as identification for the voter on the poll day.

- VFCs are set up to assist voters and provide requisite information about voting

and services like display of voter lists, issue of duplicate EPIC etc.

- Polling day reminders through SMS alerts and also on radio and television and

through public address systems.

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17.1 Model Polling Station

As per the directive of the Chief electoral officer in Bihar, atleast two model polling station will be set-up in each Assembly Constituency (AC’s) to enhance the voter turnout and also offer the voters a pleasant and comfortable experience. The purpose is to model the most effective method of dealing with the voter including the range of circumstances that polling station staff faces. The police officers will be stationed at the entry point of each model polling station to scrutinize the voter slips of voters and politely guide everyone to their respective booths. The polling station shall stand different with a welcome arch at the entrance, green carpets, shamiana, first-aid facilities, drinking water and chairs for the aged. In addition, ornamental plants will be placed in a row.

Pic- Model Polling Station set up during LS 2014 in Dist. Saran

The model PS will be designed to ensure there was suitable and accessible space such that all delegates can see and hear. The model polling stations in Bihar will ensure that there is-

• Enough space for the voters to wait outside the polling station; • Separate waiting space for men and women as far as practicable;

that there was separate entrance and exit for voters. This purpose was achieved by tying a rope to make separate entrance and exit through the same door;

• Easy flow of voters from the time they enter the polling station to the time they leave it and there is no crises-cross movement within the polling station;

• The polling agents sit in such a way that they could see the face of an elector as and when he enters the polling station and is identified by the first Polling Officer so that they can challenge the identity of the elector, if need be.

• Seating arrangement of all the Polling Officers will be made in such position that they were in a position to see the voter actually marking the ballot paper;

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• Only one door to the room housing the polling station, separate entrance and exit w may be provided with the help of bamboo's and ropes in the middle of the door-way.

• Compartments inside will be sufficiently lighted. Wherever necessary, arrangement for suitable lighting will be made or each compartment.

The office of the Chief Electoral Officer shall instruct all district electoral officers-cum-district magistrates in Bihar to ensure the prohibition of smoking at booths as per the directive of Section 4 of COTPA which bans smoking at public places and provides for imposition of a fine of Rs 200 on the law violator.

An analysis of the impact of Model Polling Stations (MPS) during the LS 2014 in

Bihar suggests mixed responses due to various reasons. ECI’s instructions regarding the

provision of MPS came almost after the first phase of elections in Bihar, therefore

required publicity could not be done in all constituencies. Media reports however,

made the electors aware of the efforts being made towards ensuring BMF on polling

stations. As a result, MPS definitely evoked interest, enthusiasm and curiosity in the

people. Some media reports highlighted its features with headings like “Model Booths

roll out red carpet for voters in Saran”, “ernkrkvksa esa Fkk xtc dk mRlkg cwFk ij Qwy ls

Lokxr” etc. Based on such media reports, it may be concluded that voters have

appreciated the efforts for providing better facilities at the polling stations.

As far as the average cost of MPS is concerned, as sent earlier vide this office

letter no. 18 dated 24-05-2014. The average cost was between 10000-35000 rupees

which included fresh wall painting, furniture, tent arrangement for shade, signages ,

uniforms, electricity/generator facilities, fans etc.

Therefore to sum up, it can be said that MPS has been welcomed generally, and

can particularly be an important factor in urban areas were lots of people avoid going

on booth due to poor sanitation, long waiting hours and little/no amenities. Prior

publicity of MPS may result in better polling percentages. However its SOP could be

redrawn emphasizing more on management aspects (like queue management, may I

help you counters, priority voting for blind/infirm/ old voters, pregnant or women with

children, display of signages, do’s and dont’s for the voters) cleanliness and decent

BMF instead of pomp and show.

Hence, in Bihar, for the upcoming general elections, the target has been given

of at least 2 MPS per A.C. However reports coming from districts suggest more is being

planned. Management oriented standardized set of guidelines will be prepared

regarding this to be followed by all districts at their model PS.

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Pic- Model Polling Station set up during LS 2014 in Dist Saran

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17.2 Voters Slip Distribution

According to the KABBP survey, 5.2% respondents reported that they did not get voter slip even on the day of polling and hence could not vote. Moreover, it was found that receiving the voter slip before polling day was also an important reason as more than 33% voters have reported this factor behind their electoral participation.

Distribution of voters' slip to electors, proved useful in increasing turnout in Bihar. All those people, who have their names in the electors' list, will be distributed the voters slip, which they could use to cast their votes as an alternative document. The slip provided by the BLO's will carry the name of the voter, booth number, the voter's number in the list, date of poll, time of poll and message encouraging the voter to vote. It has proven as an excellent step towards assisting a voter to reach the right polling booth. An appeal from the DEO may also enclosed with these voter' slips. However, to allay fears of parties, commission will be cautious in distribution of these slips to voters. All booth level officers (BLO) shall be instructed to print only one set of electors slip and hand it over personally to the voter concerned. Returning officer (RO) of each constituency will be asked to oversee the distribution and prepare a schedule for it. Further, in order to reduce any possibility of misuse of these slips, bulk distribution shall be completely prohibited. The commission with the help of district administration will organize special camp in urban assembly segments. The electors who could not receive their voter slip may collect their voter slips through their BLOs available at the polling booths. Undistributed voter slips shall be kept at facilitation desk outside each polling station on the day of voting.

SVEEP Calendar

SVEEP Calendar

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18.0. SVEEP Calendar

The full-fledged 360 SVEEP plan will be implemented in Bihar for the 2015 Assembly Elections in a strategic manner. Phased-in approach will be adopted in implementing this strategy over a period of 6 months before election. Community mobilization (BAG’s group, rallies, publicity vans) activities will be initiated in areas where SVEEP interventions are already up and running and will be expanded to new areas as material and partnerships are built and formulated. Activities will be implemented at three inter-linked levels: state, district, block and Panchayat (community, booth/polling stations and state level). Implementation will be coordinated through the SVEEP Division and SVEEP core committee to leverage resources and to maintain coherence of communication activities among implementing institutions at the three levels. Below are general recommendations on key Strategy implementation areas:

- Communication will be delivered from Election Commission of India, Office of the

Chief Electoral Officer and District Election Officer: In material development, office of the Chief Electoral officer and the DEO’s will first consider the archive of approved material compiled by the SVEEP Division of the Commission which is available on the ECI website. A theme, logo and slogan shall be provided from a ECI for all communication materials which will be developed at the beginning of the implementation of this Strategy. This will enhance coherence of messages and create synergy across different communication activities.

- Development and implementation of communication materials: All materials

produced may require vetting from the ECI/CEO prior to implementation. SVEEP core committee will participate in the development of all creative materials to ensure their technical accuracy and appropriateness.

- Dissemination of information materials: Materials will be disseminated through the

office of CEO’s to respective DEO’s who will further /EROS/AEROS/ to BAG’S and BLOS to ensure that the materials are distributed efficiently and used effectively at community level.

All the above overarching strategies are: (1) IPC and community level through BLO’/BAG’s, (2) Social and Community level Mobilization through mid-media and traditional media activities and (3) Mass media activities for wider awareness programme at state level. Each of these overarching strategies has been described in message matrix (as an annexure). Intervention with all three broad strategies together will underscore the need to work with all three approaches instead of the singular focus on mass media. Each of the broad strategies is considerably strengthened if implemented synergistically and simultaneously.

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SVEEP CALENDER OF ACTIVITIES

SVEEP

(i) Preparation of SVEEP plan for Bihar Legislative Assembly General Election, 2015

15.07.2015 SVEEP Plan prepared and sent to the ECI. District SVEEP plans are being received. Districts have been asked to provide activity charts with timeline. Final State SVEEP plan to be finalized after the report of KABBP survey.

(ii) Preparation and dissemination of SVEEP materials for election

31.07.2015 (Date of final

publication of roll)

Poster, Banner/Hoarding, Audio-video for elections would be finalized before the final publication of electoral roll. Actual dissemination would start after the press note for elections.

(iii) State level/district level core committee and coordination team for monitoring of SVEEP

15.05.2015 District level SVEEP Core Committee formed and working (currently for summary revision). State level SVEEP core committee exists already. Its meeting would be called after the press note for elections.

(iv) � Workshop with political parties

� Workshop with media � Workshop with

representatives of partner departments

� Workshop with Civil Society Organisations.

Within 15 Days after the press note.

(v) Identification of 10% Polling Stations where voting was least in earlier election

20.06.2015 Most of the districts have already identified it. Reports from the rest are being sought, to be finalized within a week.

(vi) Selection of State Icon By 31st July, 2015

Mrs. Sharda Sinha (Singer) is already the state icon. District icons are also being identified. Mrs. Malini Awasthi for Saran and

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Santosh Yadav ( lady who has climbed Mount Everest twice) for Munger.

(vii) KABBP and Expenditure related Survey

31.07.2015 As per ECI direction, Chandragupta Institute of Management (CIMP) has been selected to carry out the KABBP survey on SVEEP along with inducement / ethical voting related to expenditure management.

(viii) Sankalp Patra

5th September

(ix) Help line 15.05.2015 Toll free helpline numbers have been established and working in all the districts. These will continue till the end of elections.

(x) Documentation of each activity and its compilation

15.08.2015 and

15.12.2015

15 Days after the summary revision and elections each.

(xi) KABBP and Expenditure related Survey

31.07.2015 As per ECI direction for survey, Chandragupta Institute of Management (CIMP) has been selected to do the KABBP survey on SVEEP along with inducement / ethical voting related to expenditure management.

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Monitoring & Review

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19.0. Monitoring & Review

Mid period review and constant monitoring of SVEEP programme in the districts will be

conducted to assess the efficacy of the interventions including about the timely and

proper utilisation of funds. Regular Video Conferences may be organised by the office

of the CEO with all DEOs for review of implementation. The programme may also be

reviewed at the national and state level.The office of the CEO in Bihar has a very

systematic mechanism for monitoring of the implementation of SVEEP activities at

district and state level. Various corrective actions whenever required e.g. Video

Conferencing with DEOs, regular meetings with partners and district SVEEP nodal

officers, orders, field visits were undertaken. In order to keep the track of the activity

from HQ a daily, weekly and fortnightly reports may be obtained in prescribed formats.

The monitoring format is elclosed.

Key Higlights of the Monotoring and Evaluations

� Mid period review and constant monitoring of SVEEP in the district by DEO

� Regular Video Conferences by CEO with all DEOs for review of implementation

� The programme shall be reviewed at the national level by the Commission.

� A reporting format has been circulated

� DEOs to submit a report to the CEO based on:

- analysis of the overall turnout in their district - analysis of the registration ahead of polls - analysis of the comparative turnout among women, urban voters and youth - analysis of the turnout of the identified excluded groups/communities at specific

polling stations - analysis of the comparative turnout in the identified 10% of the lowest turnout

polling stations

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Annex – 1

Special Groups/ Communities to be drawn into the Electoral Process

Serial no

Target Activity Partnership/Agencies to be associated

1 Women House to house contacts, Mela, Nautanki, Information through Television, Radio, Posters, Banners, Pamphlets, State Icons (Sharda Sinha), Awareness through Aanganwadi worker and Health worker , Awareness through JEEVIKA activists

Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare,Information and Public Relation Department College Students, Universities, School/College students, SaksharBharat Preraks, State Icons, Bihar Rural Livelihood Mission

2 Youth Hoarding, Posters, Banners, SMS through Mobile, Caller tune of the Mobile , Information through Television, HumanChain, Rallies, Mobile based services like SMS, website based services, Media based publicity (radiojingles, video messages, news paperinformation), Music show, run for voteetc

College Students, Electronic/Printmedia, cultural troupe, campus ambassadors, on-political organizations, Nehru Yuva Kendra, NCC, NSS, Rotary Club,Red Cross,etc.

3 Urban Debate, Essay, Slogan, Painting, Writing competitions. Human chains, Prabhat Ferries, Sankalp Patra, Pledge letters, Appointment of Campus ambassadors. Road Shows, Humanchains, Cycle Races,Processions, Mobile based services like SMS, website basedservices etc.

College Students, Electronic/Printmedia, cultural troupe, Campus ambassadors, etc.

4 Identified community

Nukkad Natak, Songs, Drama, Media Publicity, Confidence building measuresthrough better law and order situation, Voters facilitations measures likeensuring 100% EPIC distribution,enrollment etc

Governmentdepartments, NLMA, Media (Electronic,Print) intervention and facilitation by localadministration etc.

5 Physically disabled, Old Persons etc.

Ensuring proper facilities measureslike Ramp, Water, Shade, sitting arrangements First aid incase of need

Intervention andfacilitation by local Admi\nistration,NLMA , NCC etc.

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Annex – 2

Key Communications Channels that may be engaged

S.n Media Forms Activities

1 Mass Media TV Spots (Broadcast through Doordarshan and otherother channels, Cables, Slides in Cinema/Video Halls during intervals and before the screening of films,etc) , Radio spots(through Radio FM /AIR etc)

Newspapers (Press advertisements and Press Insertions etc

2 Mid-Media Posters/Banners/ Hoardings on strategic locations ( ex College Campus/ Govt Departments/ Bus stands/ Railways stations/ Post offices, vehicles / Run for vote Railway stations etc etc Jagrukta Rath (Campaign though dedicated vehicles)

3 Frontline workers Awareness through Aanganwadi workers Jeevika activists/SHG's, Frontline Health Workers such as ANM, ASHA etc Group Oath ceremonies at school /college / universities/ departments, Rallies/ Human Chain/ Candle Rally at school /college / universities/ departments, Announcement on Railway stations and Theatre etc

4 Traditional Media Nukkad Natak/ Street Cycle Rally / Folk songs/Dances/ Rallies

5 Social Media/

Websites

Face book, Tweeters, YouTube etc, CEO website

6 Celebrity

Engagements

State Icons/Celebs like Dhoni, Kohli as ambassadors and their Posters and Banners with ethical messages

7 Media Partnership Partnership with Newspapers, Radio FM/AIR and Cable networks

8 Interdepartmental

Partnership

Health Department, General Administration Department, Art, Culture & Youth Department, ICDS Jeevika, Education Department

9 Social Mobilizations

/ CSR activities

Bihar Road Construction Corporation, Bihar State Pul Nirman Nigam Ltd., Building Construction Department and Bihar State Beverage Corporation Ltd

10 Bulk SMS and

Caller Tunes

Bulk SMS through Mobile subscribers like Airtel, Aircel, BSNL/, Reliance, SMS through Mobiles, Caller tune and Ring tones assigned with ethical messages etc

11 IPC through Booth

Level Awareness

Groups (BAG’s)

Voter Slip Distributions, Door to Dor Face to face campaign though BLO / Sharing of key information's like dates and basic minimum facilities etc, Appeal from DM/DEO/ Message from Ex President A.P.J.Kalaam/ Sankalp Patra's

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Annex- 3

Communication Channels and Tools

Communication channels can be defined as modes of transmission that facilitate exchange between the sender of the message and the recipient. Some of the broad categories of channels that may be utilized in health communication campaigns are: Interpersonal communication: This includes one to one communication such as would happen between peer to another. Community based channels: These reach a group of people within a distinct area for instance a village, neighborhood or a group based on common interests or with common characteristics Forms of community communication are: • Community based media such as local folk, local mela and posters. • Community based activities such as community theatre, public rallies and meetings. • Community mobilization a participatory process of communities identifying and taking action on shared concerns. Mass Media Channels: These reach a large audience within a short period of time and include: • Television • Radio • Newspapers • Magazines • Outdoor/Transit Advertising • The Internet

Mid- Media Channels: These also reach include semi- large audience ( group of

people/communities) but takes time and include;-

• Wall paintings • Hoardings • Bill-boards • Street theatre • Folk etc • Publicity vans/ mikes

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Annex -4

Guiding Principles of the SVEEP Campaign Strategy

Pr

n Strategy

The following principles should underpin the planning, implementation and monitoring of the Haryana Health Communication Campaign Strategy:-. 1) Results oriented - The effectiveness of a communication effort should be ultimately determined by the key outcomes. Increased knowledge, approval and adoption of healthy behavior/knowledge/belief and attitude should be verified by research;

2) Evidence based – Communication planning should utilize accurate data and theory to inform and guide the activities;

3) People/beneficiary centered – Audiences should be involved with a view to determine what their health needs are and participate in the process of shaping messages to address those needs;

4) Participation – Statekeholders involvement should be throughout the communication process including programme design, implementation and evaluation;

5) Benefit oriented – The client must perceive the benefit of adopting the targeted participatory electoral behavior;

6) Service linked – The electoral participation efforts should be directed towards promotion of specific services (Security, Basic minimum facility, model polling stations etc to ensure confidence among the electors;

7) Multi-channeled – Multiple channels that are complimentary should be used with a view to enhance effectiveness of communication and reach the target audiences;

8) Technical quality – The communication and related processes should aim to be effective through high quality messaging and products;

9) Advocacy related – Strategic communication should be advocacy-related, targeting the individual and policy level to influence behaviour change;

10) Expanded to scale – Communication is effective when its success at programme level can be expanded to other levels;

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Annex- 5 SVEEP ACTIVITIES REPORTING FORMAT

Sl. No. Topics Numbers

1 Number of Urban Voter Facilitation Centre/CSCs (with voter facility/ equivalent facility) operational in the state as on date

2 Number of Rural Voter Facilitation Centers/CSCs (with voter facility /equivalent facility) operational in the state as on date

3 Total number of PS

4 Number of indentified low turnout PS(10% or more)

5 Number of media insertion Covering (also) these PS areas a. Special Camps for registration b. Street Plays/Folk art competitions etc c. Rallies/Runs

d. Special event with icon e. Other events

6 Number of media Insertion covering (also) these PS areas a. Newspaper advertisements b. Television spots/pgm

c. Radio sports/pgm d. Out-doors Hording/Bus panels etc e. Posters, Pamphlets, banners f. SMS/Caller tune etc g. Internet insertions

7 Outreach measures/advertisements taken up to publicize Special camps for checking names in electoral roll by Voters and filling forms.

8 Number of excluded groups/communities identified

9 Special initiatives taken for these groups/communities

10 Mobilization organized for meeting gender gap a. Meetings(with functionaries like AWW/ASHA, CSOs etc) b. Special camps c. Street Plays/Folk art competitions etc

d. Rallies/runs e. Special eve with icon

11. Youth specific Physical events organized a. Number of events like competitions festivals, street plays etc b. Number of Educational institutions that participate in events

c. Special registration camps in educational institutions d. Special camps for youth outside the educational system e. Special events with Icon f. Rallies /Runs g. Any other initiative

12. Mobilizations organized for fighting urban apathy a. BLO/RWA meetings b. Special Camps c. Rallies/Run d. Appeal Letters ( from DEOs/ CEO) e. Press notes

f. Specials events with Icon g. Others events

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13 Number of media insertions on informed and inducement free voting a. Newspaper advertisements

b. Television spots/ pgn c. Radio spots/ pgn d. Outdoor Hording/Bus panels/etc e. Poster, pamphlets, Banner f. SMS/Caller Tune etc g. Internet Insertions

14 Number of partner Agencies at state level a. Government Department/Govt. Media b. CSOs c. Private media d. PSUs/Corporate

e. Organizations like NYKS, NSS, Cooperative Societies, RWAs etc f. Others

15 Number of partner Agencies at district level a. Government Departments/Govt. media b. CSOs

c. Private media d. PSUs/Corporate e. Organizations like NYKS, NSS, Cooperative Societies, RWAs etc f. Others

16 Postal Ballot Voters

a. Is pre-filled form 12/12A being generated using software b. Number of postal Ballot Voters (including polling officials and service

votes) identified c. Number of form 12/12 A issued to polling personal till date d. Number of filled and signed form 12/12 A collected till date

e. Are blank form 12/12A Available on CEO’s websites f. Number of meeting /event/ facilitation events held for these people g. Number of media insertion for these voters (including

advertisements, SMS, latter , orders, circulars etc

17 How many users availed such facility in voter list offered through SMS

18 Number of pledge letters issued by DEOs

19 Number of pledge letter received back after signature

20 Number of districts where letters of appeal for polling issued by DEOs

21 Number of Campus Ambassadors appointed

22 Give names of state Icon. If any

23 Number of advertisements (including posters etc) to

communicate about distribution of Voter slip (delivered at home, from BLO, at PS)

24 Number of reminder SMS and broadcast inserts planned on poll day

25 Total polling station in the state

26 Number of polling station with the following BMF a. Ramps b. Shed c. Toilet d. Drinking water facility

e. Electricity

27 Two most innovative intervention taken till date

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aa ssttrroonnggeerr ddeemmooccrraaccyy

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer

Address: 7, Sardar Patel Marg (Mangles Road), Patna - 800015, Bihar.

Phone: 0612-2217956

E-mail: [email protected]