Sequence of Activities of AP Election Watch 2004

1. Training of Trainers, resource persons and volunteers
2. Voter registration and Electoral rolls revision
3. Campaign against criminalization
4. Voter Awareness campaign
5. Debates between candidates
6. Montioring of Polling Process
7. Pre and Post polling surveys

IV. Voter Awareness campaign

We propose to undertake a massive voter awareness campaign with the following specific aims:

1. To encourage voters to go out and vote - this will be done primarily through public broadcasting messages in various forms.
2. Encouraging people not to vote for criminal candidates - as outlined earlier, this will be the core focus of the campaign and will be done through a variety of mass communication channels.
3. Asking people not to sell their votes - one of the paradoxes of Indian polity is that the voter is seeking money to vote and the politicians are compelled to buy their votes. This is being done as the voter largely feels that no matter who wins, he is ending up losing and therefore he might as well maximize his short-term gains. We will endeavour to show the voter the link between his vote and well-being and make him realize the importance his vote.
4. Create awareness about tendered vote procedure - thanks to Lok Satta's advocacy, the State Election Commission has made repoll mandatory (during the local government elections in 2000) if tendered votes in any polling booth exceed 2 % of the votes cast. We will create awareness on this procedure and ask people to exercise this option, in case, someone else has already cast their vote.
5. Set the agenda for good governance through Right to Information, Citizen's Charters, Empowerment of Local Governments and Local Courts. As you are aware, the union government has recently enacted a law on Right to Information. The law is yet to be implemented as the appropriate rules are not framed. Thanks to FDR/Lok Satta's advocacy citizen's charters with compensation were introduced for the first time in the country in case of the municipalities. Subsequently, the government has introduced similar charters in other departments. Thanks to the massive campaign launched by Lok Satta for local government empowerment, the government was forced to concede our demands and has initiated measures for substantial devolution. We drafted a model legislation for local courts and sent it to the government for its consideration. On all these issues we aim to create public awareness.

On all these issues, we propose to print posters, pamphlets, produce videos and radio messages for public broadcasting. We already have some videos from the 1999 effort and we will produce a few more to suit the current requirements. In addition, we propose to organize 1-2 cultural performances on the above issues in each constituency. The cultural performances will be funded through the Active Citizen's Training programme, which is already supported by the Trust.

V. Debates between candidates

a. Common platforms at the assembly constituency level

The biggest chunk of support we are seeking is for this specific activity. Similar to our earlier efforts, we will endeavour to bring all major contesting candidates in at least 250 constituencies onto a common platform to debate issues of public concern. In a majority of the constituencies these debates will be broadcast live on local cable channels. In the event that the parliamentary elections are held simultaneously, we will try to hold common platforms in all the 42 parliamentary constituencies.

Rationale for conducting common platforms:

1. To drive home the point that no matter which party or candidate wins, the focus should be on good governance.
2. Highlight issues of good governance such as local government empowerment, local courts, right to information, citizen's charters etc.
3. Introduce the idea of accountability of public servants to citizens. Normally, during campaign time politicians are used to making all sorts of promises to the people, knowing fully well that very rarely they are asked to stick to their promises. Therefore a majority of them got used to making irresponsible promises on poll-eve as no one holds them accountable. We will aim to caution the candidates in public that we will watch their performance and hold them accountable and also create in people's minds that it is their duty to keep watch on their representatives' actions.
4. Change the nature of public discourse and campaigns. In light of the recently enacted law on Political Funding (copy enclosed), all electronic media, including cable and private channels are mandated to provide free air-time to all recognized political parties on an equitable basis. We wish to use this golden opportunity and promote the idea of such debates on a national scale. In fact we have interacted with the EC and senior officials of Doordarshan and they responded favourably to our suggestion.

Through this exercise, FDR/Lok Satta aims to set an example that could be emulated across the country and bring a fundamental transformation in the way campaigns are held and also impact the very nature of public discourse.

b. Chief Ministerial debate

During the 99'EW effort, even though we tried to hold a debate between the two main chief ministerial candidates, we were able to get only the senior functionaries of the parties and not the main candidates themselves. Even then, the debate was a resounding success and was broadcast live by all local cable channels in Hyderabad city. This time we will again endeavour to bring the main chief ministerial candidates and hold a debate largely on the lines of US presidential debates.

 

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