Gautam Buddh Nagar, the district encompassing Noida and Greater Noida, will cast their votes for the Lok Sabha on Friday. In preparation for the elections, the district administration has announced that schools and colleges will be closed on Friday to accommodate the polling process. However, these educational institutions will resume their regular schedules on Saturday.
In a bid to encourage voter participation, the district administration has also directed factories and industries to grant a paid holiday to their workers on Friday, April 26. This decision, according to District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma, was prompted by feedback from workers who expressed difficulty in voting due to their work commitments. By granting a paid holiday, the administration aims to ensure that all eligible voters have the opportunity to exercise their fundamental right to vote.
Approximately 26.75 lakh people are eligible to vote in Gautam Buddh Nagar, which comprises the twin cities of Noida and Greater Noida. The district administration is making concerted efforts to improve voter turnout, which has historically been relatively low. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Gautam Buddh Nagar recorded a voter turnout of 60.47 per cent, slightly higher than the 60.38 per cent in 2014 but significantly lower than expected in a densely populated area. The 2009 turnout was even lower at 48 per cent.
To further encourage voter participation, the district administration has engaged residents’ welfare authorities (RWAs) and apartment owners’ associations (AOAs) to promote voting among their members. The administration plans to commend and issue certificates to those associations that demonstrate an improvement in voter turnout. This initiative aims to foster a sense of community responsibility and encourage active civic engagement.
Gautam Buddh Nagar is among 89 constituencies voting on April 26 during the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections. As the district is home to numerous office spaces and residential areas, its voter turnout can have a significant impact. With the district administration’s proactive measures, there is hope that more people will exercise their right to vote, contributing to a vibrant and participatory democracy.
