The nation is currently engaged in the world’s largest democratic exercise, where the stakes are incredibly high. However, despite the magnitude of India’s elections, some individuals may choose not to vote due to various reasons, or they may encounter physical barriers preventing them from participating in the electoral process. This decreases the voter turn out which in turn hampers true representation and the results may not accurately represent the preferences of the entire population. Further, it also undermines the principle of democratic participation.
Considering the following situation, Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi, P. Krishnamurthy, has taken a commendable step to alleviate people’s stress. In an effort to boost voter participation, the Cheif Electoral Officer of Delhi has launched a collaborative innitiative with Rapido, a bike ride-sharing platform.This initiative will provide eligible voters with complimentary rides from the polling booths to their residences on May 25th, the day of polling in Delhi. The strategic collaboration aims to streamline access to polling stations and foster civic participation among citizens throughout the electoral process.
This initiative is a positive step forward as it would strongly encourage the electorate to participate in voting. A higher voter turnout would provide a clearer picture of the elections and ensure genuine representation.
The innitiative is called ‘Sawaari Zimmedari Ki’ in this voters can avail themselves of free rides from the polling booth to their homes using the code “VOTENOW.” This initiative aims to facilitate residents’ voting rights and ensure a more inclusive electoral process, as stated by Rapido.
Steps to Book a Free Ride:
- Open the Rapido App.
- Set your Pick and Drop Location.
- Click on the coupon tab, enter the coupon code “VOTENOW,” and click on Apply.
- Click on Book Bike.
This concerted effort aligns with Rapido’s nationwide campaign, deploying over 10 lakh captains across more than 100 cities to provide free rides on election day. Rapido’s co-founder Pavan Guntupalli commented on this initiative and said “We are undertaking this initiative to ensure that voters in Delhi can successfully fulfil their civic duty by casting their votes in the Indian General Election 2024.
“By offering these free rides, we are celebrating democracy in action. Our Rapido captains in Delhi are more than just drivers; they are ambassadors of civic engagement, enabling greater voter turnout and promoting a more representative electoral system in the world’s largest democracy.”
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