Systematic Voter’s Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP)

Qualitatively and quantitatively, the voter’s participation is bedrock for a participative democracy. Similarly, the voter registration and electorate education are central to the election management process. India faces a huge gap between what the voters should know and what they actually know in relation to various components of the election process. Further, it has been also observed that voter awareness alone does not convert the voters into actually casting their votes.

The Systematic Voter’s Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme of Election Commission of India is a landmark programme to inform, educate, motivate and facilitate voters and in turn make Indian democracy more participative and meaningful.

In this programme, every aspect of the election process is simulated to ensure enhanced voters’ participation in the polling. It is the impact of this programme that during last few years, the voter registration has continuously gone up and high voter turnout with greater participation from youth and women has become possible.

Important Trivia

Here are some important trivia and notes regarding this programme:

• The SVEEP programme began from Bihar.
• The programme involved an array of simple policy initiatives and activities intended to improve people’s participation in the electoral process.
• The sole idea is to remove gaps in information, motivation and facilitation of the voters and then increase voter turnout in elections.
• The programme involved carrying out Voters’ Behaviour Surveys. These surveys found out underlying reasons for under registration, problems in getting duplicate EPIC, correcting names on voter list and various information gaps and low voter turn-out. These surveys also helped to map the demographics of elector-segments with lower electoral participation.
• To increase the participation of youth and women, ECI made some direct interventions such as making the enrolment process easier and convenient and people friendly.

Implementation

To implement the SVEEP programme, the ECI created a SVEEP wing to formulate policies, lay down the framework and to plan & monitor interventions.  The SVEEP wing carries out continuous discourse with voting public, civil society groups and media. Apart from that, the ECI initiated some internal organizational changes in the state level and had also created state and district level core groups to coordinate and implement all SVEEP activities. Further, the ECI collaborated with educational institutions, youth organizations such as NYKS, NSS, NCC etc. to tap new voters and promote greater awareness.

ECI also collaborated with Central and State governments and departments so that these departments can extend their existing infrastructure and manpower (field functionaries) for electoral education and outreach.

ECI also collaborated with Government media, private media, Civil Society and credible NGOs for increasing people’s awareness regarding electoral participation. Electoral literacy was made a major component of the Sakshar Bharat Programme of the Government of India. We note here that the ECI and UNDP also have an MoU in the field of Voter Education.

ECI also introduced students as Campus Ambassadors in educational institutions to facilitate the SVEEP Programme.

To create awareness, the EC is making use of popular persons such as former President A P J Abdul Kalam, cricketer M S Dhoni, badminton player Saina Nehwal and boxer Mary Kom. The campaign was and is being carried out mainly at public places such as railway stations, bus stations, busy junctions, educational institutions and cinemas besides the contemporary media.