Madhyabindu (Nawalparasi), March 1: With election to House of Representatives only a few days away, enthusiasm and curiosity have gripped young voters in the district. A new generation of voters is preparing to exercise their franchise for the first time.
Through social media platforms, debates, discussions and school-campus level dialogue, they are trying to understand elections, the constitution, the system of governance and civic responsibilities.
New voters of Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East) say they will use their first vote to ‘build a future’ rather than on ‘personal interests’. Their priorities are quality education, job creation, transparent governance and leadership that understands people’s problems.
Pawan Dhega Magar of Binayi Triveni Rural Municipality-1 Baguwan said that he was looking forward to vote for the first time. "I will vote for a candidate who will take concrete steps to solve the problems of Baguwan village", he said.
Various civic organizations in the district are organizing voter education, awareness programs and dialogues targeting first-time voters. Participants say that such programs have increased confidence in voting among the youth.
Angel Bhusal, 19, of Kawasoti Municipality-2, who is going to vote for the first time, said we have come to realize that our vote determines our future.
Suman Thapa, another youth from Bulingtar Rural Municipality-3, said we are thinking of choosing a candidate who will bring a policy that will provide opportunities to the youth in the country itself.
Some youth are also spreading the message of responsible voting in social media with the slogan ‘Let’s vote thoughtfully, let’s build a future’.
Chief of the District Election Office Lal Prasad Sharma Bhusal said that 9,237 new voters have been added in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Sustapur). According to him, the number of voters who registered their names directly from the District Election Office is 3,153 and those who registered their names using national identity cards is 6,084. There are a total of 268,526 voters in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Sustapur) divided into two electoral constituencies. (RSS)