National Voters Day

India celebrates its National Voters’ Day on January 25 every year. The celebration of the day aims to increase the participation of a number of voters and to encourage the newly eligible voters. This year marks the 11th National Voters Day centred on the theme of ‘Making Our Voters Empowered, Vigilant, Safe and informed. ’National Voters’ Day is celebrated to encourage, facilitate and maximise enrolment, especially for the new or first-time voters. On this day, voters are being made aware of promoting informed participation in the electoral process. New voters or first-time electorate are handed over their Elector Photo Identity Card in the National Voters’ Day function.
National Voters’ Day: History
The Voters’ Day celebration was initiated in 2011 by the then President of India, Pratibha Devi Patil, on the 61st foundation day of the Election Commission of India. The Election Commission of India, or ECI, was established on January 25, 1950.
Why is voting important
The agenda to celebrate voter’s day is to raise awareness of the importance of voting, especially among the newly eligible voters of the country. Voting is a basic process that helps to form a country’s government. One can choose their representatives through voting.
Voting rights enables people the right to question the government about issues and clarifications. It also provides a sense of freedom to express an opinion in major decision making for the benefit of the country in a democratic nation.
Inspirational Quotes about Voting:

• You’ve got to vote, vote, vote, vote. That’s it; that’s the way we move forward.”
  – Michelle Obama
• “The vote is precious. It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democratic society, and we must use it.”— John Lewis
• “It’s not enough to just want change … You have to go and make a change by voting.”— Taylor Swift
• “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”— Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• “Your voices are being heard and you’re proving to our ancestors that their struggles were not in vain. Now we have one more thing we need to do to walk in our true power, and that is to vote.” — Beyoncé,
• “All of us may have been created equal. But we’ll never actually be equal until we all vote. So don’t wait.” — Leonardo DiCaprio
• “Someone struggled for your right to vote. Use it.”— Susan B. Anthony
• “When we vote, our values are put into action and our voices are heard. Your voice is a reminder that you matter because you do, and you deserve to be heard.”— Meghan Markle
• “There’s no such thing as a vote that doesn’t matter. It all matters.”— Barack Obama
• “We have the power to make a difference. But we need to VOTE.” — Kylie Jenner
  

  By Shailza Sharma
  Preprimary Teacher