Cast your vote, post your picture on social media and win cash prize up to Rs 5,000 and gifts. No, this is not a brand campaign of any company, but an attempt by election authorities in Madhya Pradesh to increase voting percentage in the general elections.

For the first time, the state chief electoral officer (CEO) has decided to give cash prize in the range of Rs 3,000-5,000, T-shirts, caps and pen drives to voters who post pictures on the social media account of CEO MP or send pictures on a dedicated Whatsapp number. “We have decided on four categories — a picture of a family of different generations, a group of specially-abled people, a group of girls and women and helping a centenarian casting vote for the contest,” said Abhijeet Agrawal, joint chief electoral officer. The move comes against the backdrop of a turnout of 67.9% across 15 states and union territories in the third phase of the Lok Sabha polls that concluded on Tuesday. In Madhya Pradesh that sends 29 members to Lok Sabha, polling will be conducted in the last four phases — April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19.

“The prize money will be given on the basis of number of voters in a group and timing... We will use the photographs on social media during the voting day to motivate others,” added Agrawal.

In another move to increase voter turnout, the CEO is going to provide pick-and-drop facilities for persons with disabilities and elderly voters. “Some private cab service providers showed interest in helping us free of cost. We are also asking people to become a part of this so that more people can cast their vote,” said VL Kantha Rao, CEO.

A similar method was employed by the Election Commission in Karnataka that voted in the second and third phases.

According to a report published by Quartz India, cab aggregator Ola had partnered with the state Election Commission to provide free rides to persons with disabilities, to the polling booth. The southern state recorded its highest ever voter turnout of 68.62%.

First Published: Apr 25, 2019 08:27 IST