Chapra: The Saran district administration in Bihar has embarked on an ambitious mission to achieve a minimum of 70% polling in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. To achieve this goal, they are implementing various initiatives aimed at attracting differently-abled, young and senior citizens to exercise their voting rights. Despite polling percentages below 60% in both the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, District Election Officer-cum- Saran District Magistrate, Aman Samir, is determined to take up the polling.

For this, all 3,029 polling stations in Saran will be made disabled-friendly, with facilities such as ramps and wheelchairs being provided to ensure ease of access for differently-abled and elderly voters. However, Samir acknowledges the challenges in reaching out to electorate aged above 95, who may face difficulty leaving their homes without assistance. To address this, plans are underway to enable these voters to cast their ballots from the comfort of their homes, a move that could significantly boost the overall polling percentage.

Saran boasts a total electorate of 3,055,859, with approximately 34,106 voters aged between 18-19 and 59,5,692 in the 20-29 age group. Additionally, there are 55,369 voters aged between 85-95 and 4,155 individuals aged 95 and above. The district also has 28,400 registered persons with disabilities, comprising 0.92% of the electorate.

This initiative by District Election Officer-cum-Saran DM, sets a commendable example of inclusivity and accessibility in the electoral process, aiming to ensure that every eligible voter can participate in shaping the democratic process. /BI