The 16th National Voters’ Day was celebrated across various districts in Karnataka on January 25. “Our vote, our right” is the basic mantra of democracy. Voting is not just a right; rather, it is also a sacred duty for the development and progress of the country. Every citizen has the power to shape the future of his or her country with his or her vote. Every vote is crucial, and it is essential for voters to elect responsible leaders, said Sandeep Patil, Senior Civil Judge and Member Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority.
He was speaking at the 16th National Voters’ Day program held at the Kumar Gandharva hall in Belagavi on January 25. The event was jointly organised by the Election Commission of India, District Election Officers and District Commissioners, and presidents of the District SVEEP Committee and Zilla Panchayat.
“All departments should mandatorily participate in the awareness programme to create awareness about voting. People vote for reality shows like Bigg Boss without any regard for money or caste. But when it comes to the future of our generation, why do they resort to caste and religion? You should think about it, and vote and choose good leaders. You can boldly question the elected representatives,” the judge said.
“Don’t sell your vote. You should take the lead in building the country through voting. Voters should choose good leaders without resorting to caste and religion. Develop awareness about the process of elections, and building democratic institutions,” he said..
Subhash Sankad, Additional District and Sessions Judge, said that the Voters’ Day celebration should not be limited to one day. “Everyone is old enough to understand what is happening around them after the age of 18. So, everyone above the age of 18 should vote. To choose good leaders, you must vote and exercise the rights given to citizens by the Constitution,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner of the city corporation Udayakumar Talwar said, “India is the largest democratic country. All youth should include their names in the voter list without fail after reaching the age of 18. Now, with the development of technology, it is easy to include their names in the voter list online.”
Guests distributed prizes to students who participated in various voting awareness competitions.
In Dharwad, various events were held as part of National Voters’ Day. Guests participated in distribution of EPIC cards to first-time voters, prizes for essay competition winners, a special talk, a mock voting demonstration, and other activities, at Alur Venkatrao Bhavan.
The event was organised by the district administration and was inaugurated by ZP CEO Bhuvanesh Patil. He urged young to vote without fear or favour. “In a democratic country like India, the right to vote is a symbol of our pride and dignity. Votes are not for sale, and voters must exercise wisdom while voting,” he said.
“To build a strong democracy, every eligible citizen must compulsorily exercise their right to vote. The Election Commission of India was established on January 25, 1950. In remembrance of this, National Voters’ Day has been celebrated every year,” he said.
“India is the world’s largest democracy. In a democratic system, citizens are the real rulers. The right to vote is the most sacred right granted to by the Constitution, and no one should ignore it,” he said.
He expressed concern that many youths were staying away from the voting process in recent times. “Every young man and woman who has completed 18 years of age should ensure their name is registered in the voters’ list, and must certainly exercise their right to vote,” he said.
Senior civil judge Parashuram Dodammani said that the success of democracy depends on voter awareness. Recalling the statement of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, he said that if we elect a worthy and capable person as our representative, the entire nation would prosper. “The main objective of this day is to make people aware that the right to vote is the most sacred and powerful right in a democratic system,” he said.
Superintendent of Police Gunjan Arya said, “Vote is not a commodity for sale, but a responsibility that shapes the future of the nation. In a multi-cultural and multi-religious country like India, people should vote beyond caste and religion. Some people tend to go on a holiday on polling day. We should realise that it is the day when every citizen exercises the power to decide the future of the country.”
Assistant Commissioner Shalam Hussain administered a pledge to officers, staff, and students.
In Bagalkot, the event was held in the University of Horticulture Sciences. Principal District and Sessions Judge N.V. Vijay inaugurated the event. “These days, young voters are hesitating to vote. However, we should all realise that the responsibility of choosing the leader, who will rule us, lies with all of us. It is our duty to exercise the right to vote,” he said.
ZP CEO Shashidhar Kurer administered an oath to students and others. Deputy Commissioner Sangappa presided over the program. As part of the National Voting Day celebrations, certificates were distributed to the winners of various competitions organized for high school, pre-university and graduate students, and certificates were given to the best trainers at the district and taluk levels related to elections. In
In addition, voter identity cards were symbolically distributed to young voters.
District Legal Services Authority Member Secretary Chandrashekar Diddi, Vice-Chancellor Dr. Vishnuvadhan, Additional District Collector Ashok Teli, Sub-Divisional Officer Santosh Jagalasar, and Tahsildar Vasudeva Swamy were among those present.
Published – January 26, 2026 10:40 am IST
