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Electoral Literacy Clubs Electoral Literacy Clubs are being set up in the country to promote electoral literacy in all age groups of the Indian citizens through engaging and interesting activities and hands-on experience but in an apolitical, neutral and non-partisan manner. Electoral Literacy Clubs are especially being set up in colleges all across India targeting the new voters, (in the age group of 18-21 years old) pursuing their graduation. The club will have all of the students from all semesters as its members Objectives To educate the targeted populations about voter registration, the electoral process, and related matters through hands-on experience; To facilitate EVM and VVPAT familiarization and education about the robustness of EVM as well as the integrity of the electoral process using EVMs; To help the target audience understand the value of their vote and exercise their suffrage right in a confident, comfortable and ethical manner; To harness the potential of ELC members for carrying the electoral literacy in communities; To facilitate voter registration for its eligible members who are not yet registered To develop a culture of electoral participation and maximize the informed and ethical voting and follow the principle 'Every vote counts' and 'No Voter to be Left Behind'.

FAQs and Glossary of terms This handbook contains the following chapters. 1. Registration & Voting 2. Election Machinery 3. EVM 4. EVM-advanced 5. Election to the Office of President & Vice President 6. Service Voter 7. Overseas Elector

STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK ON ACCESSIBLE ELECTIONS
  4th July 2018   Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi – 110001
www.eci.nic.in; ecisveep.nic.in   STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK ON ACCESSIBLE ELECTIONS
The Election Commission of India works on the premise of ‘No voter to be left behind’ and is committed toinclusion of all categories of voters in the electoral process to achieve the desired objective of universal adult suffrage as per its constitutional mandate. The Commission is committed to building an equal access framework for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) supported by the fundamentals of responsiveness, respect and dignity to enhance elector confidence among them; and support initiatives for improved service offerings to enhance their electoral participation.
 The Strategic Framework on Accessible Elections is built around sensitization through education and training, community involvement of different sections of society, effective partnership with institutions and originations and creation of facilities to cater to the specific needs of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) with a view to increasing their participation. The Strategic Framework shall inter alia include the following components:    1. Barriers: Continuous Identification and Solutions 
Identifying barriers and finding solutions to the same has to be a continuous process. A system of regular, periodic feedback shall be taken up. Well designed approach with strategic interventions including technology integration can help in obliterating barriers.    2. Voter Registration & Polling
 Database on PwDs, identified through mapping or initial voter registration, shall be efficiently and effectively used for follow up steps in the electoral process and the monitoring system for feedback, evaluation and consolidation. Polling stations shall be made accessible to all Persons with disabilities based on mapping of PwD electors and their specific needs    3. Inclusive Voter Education 
Customised voter education to cater to the different requirements of PwDs shall be taken up to empower them for electoral participation. All voter education content shall be accessible format. Focussed and need based interventions shall be taken up under ECI’s flagship voter education programme SVEEP to engage PwDs and also to sensitise their friends, families, polling officials, security officials and all other stakeholders.    4. Leveraging Technology for Accessible Elections 
This would essentially include (i)User friendly websites for PwDs of different categories. (ii) Accessible Technological Tools for facilitating PwDs of different categories to cast their vote (iii) Solutions for assisting voters with disabilities through technological innovation, research and integration. (iv) Accessible Media including Social Media Communications.    5. Research, Study and Knowledge sharing
A continuous search for best practices, international and domestic, through detailed study and research on all areas of participation by PwDs and sharing of experiences to help formulate enabling policies and interventions, to aid, assist and facilitate the participation of PwDs.   6. Role of Partner Departments  To explore and build partnership and commitment with Ministries and Departments to evolve and carry forward the interventions to electoral participation of PwDs.    7. Role of Educational Institutions 
The Commission has already issued directions for setting up of Electoral Literacy Clubs (ELCs) in educational institutions etc. Setting up of ELCs in educational institutions dedicated to the PwDs shall be expedited and the ELC resources shall customised to match disability requirements.   8. Role of CSOs 
To assess the potential of CSO’s and assign specific role in assisting equal access and capacity building through well designed partnerships. CSO’s potential to build partnerships should be utilised subject to their non partisan nature.    9. Role of Media 
utilise the potential of Media in taking forward voter education and to engage PwD’s for increasing their electoral participation. Media can actively contribute to an effective and successful integration of persons with disabilities in the electoral process.    10. Poll Volunteers 
Poll volunteers from among future voters can organised from educational institutions, and Chunav Pathshala, (ELCs for Communities) and trained to assist PwDs, besides from among NCC/NSS/NYKS and other non-partisan voluntary groups. The initiative will be subject to provisions of Rule 49N.   11. Training and Sensitization of Staff 
Training and sensitization of the election is important so that they are empathetic to the needs of PwD voters. The training shall be factored into regular training to the staff as also for the registration and facilitation of the PwDs.    12. Alternative Voting methods 
Alternative voting methods like advance voting or early voting, voting from home, Postal vote, transport assistance to PwDs or mobile polling station concept shall be looked at without compromising on the essential requirements of sanctity and secrecy of vote.    13. Legislative Initiative
The scope of assistance to PwDs for participation is wide and diverse. Need for legislation shall be examined for enhancing electoral participation of the PwDs.can    14. Special 4 tiered Committees on Accessible Elections 
Committees shall be formed at National, State, District and Assembly Constituency level with members from departments as well as stakeholders to review implementation of the directions of the Commission on ‘Accessible Elections’.