Systematic Voters’ Education &
Electoral Participation
‘Greater Participation for a Stronger Democracy’
ECI & SVEEP
SVEEP
Apart from conducting elections,
the other responsibility of the ECI is
voter education. It is of utmost
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is responsible
importance that the voters of the
for conducting elections throughout the country. It is country know their rights as well as
the responsibility of the ECI that these elections are responsibilities that define the
conducted in a fair and just manner and have adhered essence of any democracy. Keeping
to all the best practices and rules and regulations laid
down by it.
this in mind, The Election
Commission of India has launched
the Systematic Voter’s Education
and Electoral Participation, more
commonly known as SVEEP.
2
SVEEP
Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation
program, better known as SVEEP, is the flagship program
of the Election Commission of India for voter education,
spreading voter awareness and promoting voter literacy
in India. Since 2009, it been working towards preparing
India’s electors and equipping them with basic knowledge
related to the electoral process.
3
Objectives of SVEEP
SVEEP’s primary objective is to build a truly participative democracy in India by encouraging all
eligible citizens to vote and make an informed decision during the elections.
SVEEP was formed keeping in mind the following objectives
Voter Awareness Voter Registration Voter Participation Social Equality
Creating voter awareness Encouraging maximum Encouraging maximum It also strives to build social
with respect to the voter registration of the voter participation in the equality of the voters and
importance of voting and qualified voters and election process and various demographics of
the role of a voter in a maximum turnout of carrying out the elections the country
democracy voters on the polling in the most ethical and
dates efficient manner.
4
Structure of SVEEP
The structure of SVEEP is multi dimensional. SVEEP works right from the grass root levels up to the national
level in order to achieve its objectives.
Booth Level District Level State Level National Level
The ECI introduced the More often than not, the An officer in every State The SVEEP wing of the
institution of Booth Level district collector is the District CEO’s office is instructed to ECI is responsible for
officers in 2006. These Election Officer who take charge of the SVEEP formulating policies,
officers generally cover one implements the SVEEP programme. Representatives laying down the
or two polling stations and programme at a district level. from universities, youth framework, planning the
are responsible for A SVEEP committee is formed organisations, educational involvement and the
maintaining the electoral at the district level which is institutions and members of implementation of the
roll. headed by the Chief Executive Civil Society groups form a objectives and the
officer of the Zilla Parishad core group and ensure programme.
and also the Chief volunteers for electoral
Development Officer. participation. 5
SVEEP Process
The approach of SVEEP is categorized in two phases namely the pre-poll phase that requires the voter registration and voter education and secondly
the poll phase which is the actual turnout of the voters during the elections and the process of the elections.
The procedure or functioning of
SVEEP involves the following four Implementation
major steps:
Design specific involvements
that are targeted or catered to
Partnership & specific set of individuals or
Collaboration groups
Involvement in order to
reduce the gender gap and
Preparation Universities of explicit states
take measures to increase
Additional scholastic
associations youth involvement.
Formation of SVEEP Core
Youth administrations Targeted Actions to determine
Committee
Planning Appointment of Nodal officers Management subdivision urban apathy and take steps
Media companies to resolve it.
Training the officers
Prepare National Commercial houses and
Situation Analysis
Framework plan Public Sector Units
Analysis of the gender gap
Prepare State SVEEP plans Single and group helpers
Analysis of the registration gap
Prepare District level SVEEP Prominent individuals at
Analysis of gaps in turnout
plans state and national levels
Analyzing the reasons for
Drafting the monitoring,
youth disconnect
feedback & evaluation
Identifying groups with lowest
process.
participation and analyzing the
Resource allocation
reason for low participation
Content creation
6
National Voters day is an
initiative that has been started
by the Election Commission of
India. It falls on the 25th of
National January, and has
celebrated every year since
been
Voters Day 2011. This initiative was started
with a view to increase voter
awareness and encourages
them to vote in order to have
maximum voter registration and
turnout.
PAGE 7
Events Organized by the SVEEP
There are many events and activities organized by the SVEEP as part of its voter
awareness and encouragement initiative. Some of these events are :
Voting in educational institutes
Debates on elections in India
Music competitions, songwriting and theme-based drawing
competitions.
Native and traditional art competitions for rural women
These events are held at public places to encourage maximum participation and maximum reach of the objectives of SVEEP.
8
Voter Facilitation
Facilitation For Registration Facilitation For Voter Turnout
Extending the poll hours up to 11 hours at several
The official website of ECI or the CEO’s places to facilitate increase in increase voting
website facilitating online registration Setting up and providing basic facilities like
SVEEP has facilitated the voters to drinking water, ramps, washrooms at every voting
search their name in the electoral roll booth
and CEO’s website Marking well defined and separate rows for male
SVEEP also has SMS-based service for and female voters
finding names and poll booths Giving preference to Senior citizens and the
Additionally, SVEEP organizes special physically challenged to vote first at the polling
registration camps to ensure maximum booths.
voter registration. Setting up model polling stations at various
places that provide additional facilities and are
generally of more help to the voters across all
categories.
9
10
