The Election Commission of India (ECI) awards Meghalaya for being the state with the best electoral practices.
Meghalaya chief electoral officer, F R Kharkongor received the award at the National Voters’ Day function in New Delhi on Monday.
Kharkongor received the award from the Indian President Ram Nath Kovind virtually.
The ECI has been celebrating the National Voters’ Day on January 25 since 2011 to mark the foundation day of the commission on the same day in 1950.
The main purpose of the celebration is to encourage, facilitate and maximize enrolment, especially for the new voters.
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The theme for this year’s National Voters’ Day – Making Our Voters Empowered, Vigilant, Safe and Informed – envisages active and participative voters during elections.
The event also focuses on the ECI’s commitment towards conducting elections safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As on January 15, Meghalaya had published its final electoral rolls with a total of 20,16,566 electorates.
Female voters outnumbered male voters in the state. There are 10,20,579 femal voters and 9,95,986 male voters.
The state level function celebrating the National Voters’ Day was held at the Durbar Hall of Raj Bhavan with governor, Satya Pal Malik as the chief guest.
On the occasion, the governor distributed Electors Photo Identity Cards to some newly enrolled voters besides giving away awards to winners of various competitions organized as part of the celebration.
Satya Pal Malik said, “The young voters have an important role to play in a democracy.”
He congratulated the state and the chief electoral officer for bagging the award for best electoral practices.