Residents associations to motivate increased turnout in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: The 48-hour period of silence begins in Telangana ahead of the November 30, 2023 polling day. This means that it's time to think carefully, make wise decisions and exercise your right to vote on November 30, 2023.

The United Federation of Residents Welfare Associations (UFERWAS) in Hyderabad has played an important role in the Telangana elections by sensitising and encouraging voters in the city to exercise their franchise to increase voter turnout in the city.

Not only has the association raised awareness about citizens' right to vote, but it has also challenged all resident welfare associations, flat associations, and basti associations to come out of their homes and vote.

The association has also asked voters to participate in the 'Come Out and Vote Challenge' with their families and take a selfie and post it in their colony groups to encourage other residents to vote.

The associations organized several activities to increase the voter turnout and requested the members to use colony/community Whatsapp groups, social media platforms asking each and every resident of welfare associations to check their names in the electoral roll and post a message (after finding their name) in the your colony WhatsApp group saying 'I am a Proud Voter'.

Members of the association also held rallies with placards to encourage voters, stating that voting is not only a right, but it is also the responsibility of every voter to use it, and that voting is a wonderful opportunity to choose our future.

They also asked residents to vote in the first hour with their families and post selfies on colony WhatsApp groups to effectively motivate the colony residents to vote in the first hour and request them to post their picture clearly showing the 'Electoral Ink' mark on their finger.

The associations decided to take this step because voter turnout in most of Greater Hyderabad's 24 urban seats has ranged between 40 percent and 55 percent in the last three Assembly elections. Overall voter turnout in the state was 72.72 percent in 2009, 74.2 percent in 2014, and 73.74 percent in 2018. The residents' association believes that increased public awareness will boost voter turnout in Hyderabad this election season.

"These activities will definitely increase voter turnout significantly and interest in your residents going out to vote.We are confident that voter turnout will increase by 5-8 percent. Our members are collaborating with residents from all over Greater Hyderabad. This election result will also surprise everyone because there is no clarity, " said B T Srinivasan, general secretary of the United Federation of Resident Welfare Associations (U-FERWAS).

The Telangana Assembly elections are approaching and the mood among voters in Hyderabad is a mixture of excitement, apprehension and surprise. Go vote and exercise your franchise on November 30, 2023!