Policy Update
Agamya Goyal
Background
Initiated in 2011, National Voters’ Day (NVD) is commemorated annually on 25 January, marking the establishment of the Election Commission of India on 25 January 1950. The core aim is to foster voter awareness and streamline the enrolment—particularly of first-time youth voters—across over 850,000 polling stations. Activities include distributing Electors’ Photo Identity Cards (EPICs), recognizing exemplary election officials, and conducting public pledges and awareness drives.
In 2025, the 15th NVD coincided with the Election Commission of India’s 75th anniversary, soon after all‑India 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the world’s largest democratic exercise. With the electoral roll nearing the 100‑crore mark (99.1 crore as of Jan 2025), comprising 21.7 crore young voters (18–29 years) and a gender ratio of 954 women per 1,000 men, the importance of this milestone is amplified.
Functioning
The national, state, district, constituency, and booth levels are among the administrative levels where the NDV is coordinated. The distribution of EPIC to newly eligible youth on January 25 is one of the essential elements.
The President of India bestows awards and recognition for outstanding electoral management to state and district officials as well as other stakeholders.
Campaigns for voter education include media pushes, marches, demonstrations, and school quizzes that encourage moral and informed voting.
Technology integration: To improve the accuracy of the electoral roll, identify false information, and identify artificial campaign content, the Commission is investigating artificial intelligence. According to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, fake news poses a serious risk.
Misinformation campaigns, continuing inequalities in female enrollment, and unequal implementation across states and sub-units are among the challenges mentioned.
Performance (2022–2025)
- Electoral roll: Surge from ~92 crore in 2022 to 99.1 crore by January 2025; youth growth and rising gender parity reflect ongoing outreach.
- Youth inclusion: 21.7 crore youth registered in 2025, a substantial increase from around 18 crore in 2022.
- Gender ratio improvement: From 948 in 2024 to 954 in 2025 – showing systematic reduction of gender disparities in electoral inclusion.
- Technology adoption: Roll‑out of EVMs with VVPAT-Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail since 2019. Recent policy directives mandate AI labelling, but widespread implementation is pending. Academia proposes automated VVPAT verification to scale audit processes.
- Awards distribution: 2023’s Best Electoral Practices Awards were issued during the 2024 NVD celebrations; 2025 marks expanded reach to district levels.
Figure 1: Trends in Youth Enrollment and Gender Ratio (2022–2025).
Source: Election Commission of India Reports, PIB Press Releases (2022–2025)
Impact: Strengthening Youth Participation and Democratic Trust
- Youth Enrolment Hit a Record High:the number of people on the electoral roll increased to 99.1 crore, up from around 92 crore in 2022. The notable increase in youth involvement is that there are currently 21.7 crore young voters (18–29 years old), up from about 18 crore only a few years ago. This demonstrates that targeted outreach and awareness initiatives, particularly campus drives and EPIC distribution, are having a significant impact.
- Gender Inclusion Making Steady Progress
In 2024, there were 948 women for every 1,000 men; in 2025, that number rose to 954. Even though the increase is slight, it shows that the Election Commission is still working to close the gender disparity in voter registration, especially in rural and semi-urban areas. The trend is positive, but there is still more to be done. - Technology Driving Credibility and Access
Technology is increasingly playing a key role in election administration, from EVMs with VVPAT to the need for AI technologies to identify false information and phony campaigns. The goal is clear: boost electoral roll accuracy and process trust, even though AI deployment is still being tested. In order to expand audit tools, the ECI is also taking into account automated VVPAT recorders, which have been suggested by civil society and academics. - Celebrating Innovation and Outreach
The President of India gave Indian Railways an award during the national celebration for their innovative electoral outreach, which included the “SVEEP Express” in Jammu and Kashmir, audio messaging in stations, and extensive use of social media. By reaching people in common public areas, these efforts assisted in raising voter awareness in ways that went far beyond posters or booths. - Civic Storytelling Gaining Traction
During NVD 2025, publications such as “India Votes 2024” and the documentary trailer “India Decides” were released. These are not merely ceremonial releases; they are a part of a new effort to present the history of Indian democracy in a form that is interesting, approachable, and suitable for young people. - More Inclusive Than Ever Before
This year, special voting provisions for isolated tribal populations, those with impairments, and older residents were highlighted. These are not merely ideas on paper; the Hon’ble President recognized their practical implementation as evidence of India’s developing democracy. - Global Recognition and Knowledge Sharing
In January 2025, India convened an international meeting with election authorities from 13 nations, demonstrating how its election ecosystem is evolving into a paradigm for tech-led innovation, equity, and democratic resilience.. - Public Trust on the Rise
Voter education, gender parity, youth inclusion, and tech-driven transparency have all led to a significant result: increased confidence in the democratic process. Not only are people signing up, but they also have faith in the procedure.
Emerging Issues & Recommendations
- Digital divide hindering roll access
Recommendation: Establish hybrid online-camp registration, mobile EPIC vans, and targeted drive-in underserved areas. - Persistent misinformation
Recommendation: Scale up AI-based campaign monitoring, collaborate with media/tech platforms for fact-checking, and integrate voter literacy in school curricula. - Gender enrolment gaps in rural regions
Recommendation: Empower local women’s groups, simplify enrolment norms, use NVD as a platform for spotlighting female voter outreach. - Tech fatigue & cyber vulnerabilities
Recommendation: Rapidly finalize policy for full-fledged AI deployment with transparency mandates; invest in cybersecurity; pilot automated VVPAT loggers. - Uneven implementation across states
Recommendation: Formalize best practice pool via NVD awards dialogues; promote peer-learning platforms between high- and low-performing election offices.
Way Forward
With the electorate approaching 100 crore and the Commission commemorating its diamond jubilee, NVD 2025 is at a turning point in its history. It needs to move away from a focus on voter enrollment and toward empowering voters via technology, equity, and resilience. Digital literacy, inclusive involvement, and trust should be the main focuses of future NVD topics. For New India 2047, democratic resilience will be redefined by a holistic assessment of policy effectiveness that combines voter confidence, audit transparency, and demographic coverage.
References
- Press Information Bureau. (2025, January 25). President of India graces the 15th National Voters’ Day Celebrations. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2096091
- Press Information Bureau. (2025, January 23). India now has 99.1 crore voters: Election Commission data ahead of National Voters’ Day. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2095170
- The Economic Times. (2025, January 25). National Voters’ Day 2025: Here is the significance and theme of this year. https://m.econDisclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.omictimes.com/news/new-updates/national-voters-day-2025-here-is-the-significance-and-theme-of-for-this-year/articleshow/117543479.cms
- The New Indian Express. (2025, January 23). India now has 99.1 crore voters: ECI data. https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Jan/23/india-now-has-991-crore-voters-election-commission
- Times of India. (2025, January 22). Young voters surge to 21.7 crore in India as electoral rolls expand. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/young-voters-surge-to-21-7-crore-in-india-as-electoral-rolls-expand-ahead-of-national-voters-day/articleshow/117464913.cms
- Election Commission of India. (2025, January). ECI convenes International Conference on Election Integrity and Tech in Democracies.
- Wikipedia contributors. (2024, November 30). National Voters’ Day. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Voters%27_Day
About the Contributor: Agamya Goyal is a Research Intern at IMPRI and is currently pursuing an M.A. in Economics from Isabella Thoburn College, Lucknow.
Acknowledgement: The author extends her sincere gratitude to the IMPRI team and Ms. Aasthaba Jadeja for her invaluable guidance throughout the process.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.
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