The Department of Posts will affix a special cancellation stamp, bearing voter education messages, on postal articles. This came after the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two prominent organizations, including the Department of Posts (DoP) ahead of the forthcoming General Elections to Lok Sabha 2024.
The ECI has also signed a MoU with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) to amplify its voter outreach and awareness efforts ahead of crucial elections.
For more than 150 years, the Department of Posts (DoP) has been the backbone of the country’s communication and has played a crucial role in the country’s social and economic development. With more than 1,55,000 post offices, the DoP has the most widely distributed postal network in the world.
The initiative assumes significance owing to the concern that around 30 crore electors (out of 91 crore), did not cast their votes in the General Election to Lok Sabha 2019.
As part of the MoU, IBA & DoP with its members and affiliated institutions/units will extend support in promoting voter education through their extensive network on a pro-bono basis, employing various interventions to empower citizens with knowledge about their electoral rights, processes, and steps for registration and voting, reported PIB.
Key highlights of the MoU:
Members and affiliated institutions/units will display voter education messages prominently on their websites, directing visitors to learn more about the electoral process.
Voter education content will be disseminated through various promotional channels such as social media and customer outreach platforms of member institutions, ensuring widespread awareness among stakeholders and the public.