ECI Launches UP Voter Drive to Enrol Women and Young Voters

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Thursday, 5 November 2026

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to begin a special voter registration drive in Uttar Pradesh on November 12. The initiative aims to ensure that all eligible citizens, especially women and young people, are included in the electoral rolls ahead of the upcoming elections.

The campaign will be conducted under the Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls for 2027. January 1, 2027, has been designated as the qualifying date for voter registration, allowing eligible citizens whose names are missing from the lists to enroll.

"All efforts will be made for registration of the eligible citizens in the voter list in Uttar Pradesh," Rinwa said, adding that the Election Commission had issued guidelines to district election officers to facilitate the exercise, as per the report.

Key Highlights:

• The ECI will launch a special voter registration drive in Uttar Pradesh from November 12
• The campaign will focus on enrolling eligible women and young voters aged 18–19
• Government departments, educational institutions and community organizations will support voter enrolment efforts

As part of the campaign, electoral rolls of assembly constituencies will be matched with those maintained by panchayats and urban local bodies to identify eligible citizens who are yet to register in the assembly voter lists.

The Food and Civil Supplies Department will also assist in identifying unregistered voters through beneficiary lists maintained at fair price shops. Residents aged 18 and above whose names do not appear on the electoral rolls will be encouraged to apply for inclusion through Form 6.

The election department will also rope in educational institutions to identify eligible young voters, particularly those in the 18-19 age group. Electoral Literacy Clubs (ELCs) set up in schools and colleges will be activated to spread awareness about voting rights, ethical voting and participation in the democratic process.

Assistant electoral registration officers (AEROs) will coordinate with designated ELC representatives to facilitate the registration of eligible students. The department will also seek assistance from organizations working with young people, including the National Service Scheme (NSS), National Cadet Corps (NCC), Nehru Yuva Kendra, Yuvak Mangal Dal and Bharat Scouts and Guides.

The campaign will also focus on increasing women's participation in the electoral process. Rinwa said the proportion of female voters in the existing electoral rolls was lower than that of male voters, prompting the department to direct district officials to undertake targeted enrollment efforts.

"The number of female voters in the current voter list is unusually low compared to male voters," he said.

To fill this gap, the election department will mobilize the Women and Child Development, Health and Rural Livelihoods departments, and, with the help of ASHA workers, auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs), anganwadi workers and women's self-help groups.

During the household visit, ASHA workers and ANM/anganwadi workers will identify women, who are not registered in the electoral lists, and will help them to get registered. Women's self-help groups (Samuh Sakhis) will also be involved in identifying eligible women in rural areas and will be encouraging women to enroll.

The cooperation of several government departments will be sought to ensure that eligible citizens, especially women and youth, are registered on the electoral rolls, said Rinwa.