Dawn: Election Mela aims to reduce rejected votes, increase turnout on polling day

Dawn newspaper in Pakistan highlights The Asia Foundation’s participation in an Election Mela, an event designed to raise awareness about voting and political participation. The Asia Foundation, in collaboration with PODA (Potohar Organization for Development & Advocacy) and the Election Commission of Pakistan, held an “Election Mela” (Election Carnival) to promote voting in the upcoming general elections of Pakistan. The event was held at the National Institute of Folk & Traditional Heritage, (Lok Virsa), in Islamabad on July 17, 2018. This was a part of the Foundation’s “Vote First” election campaign. The well-attended event included the participation of community representatives from rural areas, civil society groups, political parties, and the international donor community. The day was marked by a host of immersive activities such as mock polling, quizzes and theater performances which encouraged people to vote. The Asia Foundation also set up a stall to guide people on the procedural mechanisms of voting.

ISLAMABAD: A mock election exercise and short theatre plays were conducted as part of an Election Mela in order to reduce the number of rejected votes and to increase political participation, especially of women.
 
The event was organised on Tuesday by the Potohar Organisation for Development Advocacy (Poda) and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in collaboration with The Asia Foundation (TAF) and Lok Virsa.