Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 106/24

GENERAL OBSERVER INSPECTS COMMISSIONING OF EVMS IN SWGH

The Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) commissioning process for use during General Election to the Lok Sabha in 53-Ampati, 54-Mahendraganj and 55-Salmanpara Assembly Constituencies under South West Garo Hills was conducted at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office Premises on Wednesday.

General Observer for 2-Tura (ST) Parliamentary Constituency Dr Narander Kumar Meena, IAS who visited the district inspected the process of commissioning in the presence of District Election Officer, Hema Nayak, IAS, ADC in charge Eliction, M L K Marak, EROs, AEROs and engineers as well as the representatives of political parties.

Altogether 158 EVMs were successfully commissioned for use during the General Election to the Lok Sabha on April 19th, 2024.

Press Release No. 107/24

CEO MEGHALAYA ORGANISES JUGGLE THE FOOTBALL COMPETITION

The Chief Electoral Officer of Meghalaya on Tuesday organized a 'Juggle the Football' competition in Jowai to engage with youths as a part of its ongoing voters awareness programme.

The Juggle the Football competition was organized at the Chutwakhu Club, a 100-year-old socio-cultural and sports club in Jowai. Dr. B.D.R. Tiwari, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Meghalaya said since youths are football aficionados, it was decided to engage with them for voters' awareness through football. It is a great way to engage with the youths of Jowai, Risly Pssah, Chairman (Sports) of Chutwakhu Sports Club said.

Passah thanked CEO Meghalaya, Dr. B.D.R. Tiwari for choosing Chutwakhu Club for the ‘Juggle the Football' event. Senior members of the Chutwakhu Sports Club were present at the event where the budding football players from nine clubs of Jowai participated.

The winners were given the ‘Golden Boots' and other merchandise, including branded footballs, specially designed to promote voters' awareness for the Lok Sabha election, which is scheduled to be held on April 19 in Meghalaya.

Another 'Juggle the Football' competition was organized by CEO Meghalaya on Monday at Smit in collaboration with the Smit Football Club and the Seng Samla Shnong. Similar competitions are likely to be organized in the Garo hills districts during the run up to the Lok Sabha elections.

Press Release No. 108/24

SVEEP PROGRAM HELD AT NIT MEGHALAYA

The District Election Officer, East Khasi hills District today organized the Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation Program at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Meghalaya in which students from the institution took part.

Shri Eddy Ripnar, a member of the Meghalaya Model United Nation shared about the apps that the Election Commission of India had recently launched, the Know Your Candidate (KYC) app basically helps you to gather information about any candidate in your constituency and it will help to see the background and criminal records of the candidate, which is very important as voters when choosing the candidate. Another app, cVIGIL is an innovative mobile application for citizens to report about fraud, distribution of money during elections and others, he said.

He also said that through this app, one can immediately report to the Chief Electoral Officer and they will immediately take action from the information gathered through the app and the person's name will be kept anonymous. During the program, there were questionnaires with a special focus on elections. 

Press Release No. 109/24

CEO MEGHALAYA DISTRIBUTES PRIZES TO WINNERS OF ELECTOFEST

A prize distribution ceremony was held on Wednesday for the competition winners of Electofest – The Democracy Quiz, conducted online by the Chief Electoral Officer, Meghalaya in collaboration with the Shillong Quizzing Society.

As a part of the ceremony, Chief Electoral Officer Dr. B.D.R. Tiwari, IAS, distributed hampers to eight winners, of which three winners were first time voters.

“The huge participation of young voters in this quiz is very encouraging. We say it so often that the youth have the power to change the country and indeed it is true because as a part of the largest democracy in the world, the energy and dynamic ideas that the youth bring in is unmatched,” Tiwari said. “Through the quiz, it is also my request to the voters of Meghalaya to go cast their vote on April 19. Every vote counts and makes a difference,” he added.

Joint CEO Jonathan Shylla, MCS, was also present at the event and said that Meghalaya has seen a rise in the number of young voters who will go to polls this year and such events will further boost the turnout numbers. Electofest was conceptualized as a part of a campaign for creating voter awareness and literacy as well as promoting the history, importance and developments of elections of India and in Meghalaya.

The quiz, which is being conducted in an open-for-all format on Facebook and in Instagram on the social media handles of CEO Meghalaya and Shillong Quizzing Society, has so far engaged over 1,000 people across the State and will continue running till the run up to elections, which will be held in Meghalaya on April 19. “We have designed the quiz to be interactive in nature so that it becomes the perfect way of engaging young and first-time voters, helping them be aware of the profound impact that elections have on their futures and the weight their vote truly carry,” said Arpit Nayak, co-founder of the Shillong Quizzing Society, who started the organization with his counterpart Anirban Paul in 2022. “We look forward to engaging with the youth of the state in more constructive ways in the near future,” he added.

Blaridashisha Lyngdoh and Abhishek Das, first time voters from Nongtrai (Mawsynram) and Shillong respectively, opined that the right to cast a vote is an important right for the youth due to its empowering nature and the impact it holds for determining the future of the country. “We would like to personally appeal to all voters, especially the first-time voters and the young voters, to cast their votes on 19th April’24.”