The Election Commission will observe the second National Voters' Day on Wednesday. Observed on the foundation day of the Election Commission of India, the main purpose behind celebrating the day is to encourage young voters to participate more in the election process.

This year the Commission has also been emphasizing to enroll as many women voters as possible by running women specific campaigns. The Chief Electoral Officers (CEO’s) of all states and UT’s have been instructed by the commission to enroll every youth who has attained the age of 18.

Since last 60 years, the Election Commission of India has conducted 15 general elections in the world's largest democracy.

In 1962, the voting process moved from balloting system to marking system and then to electronic voting machines in 2004. To deal with the problem of apathy in young voters, who were missing from the electoral process year after year, the Commission decided to identify all the eligible voters attaining the age of 18 years on 1st of January every year, in each of the 8.5 lakh polling station areas of the country.

Out of about four crore new voter registrations done in the country till January 1 this year, 1.11 crore are in the age group of 18-19. This is more than double the number of young people registered last year.

Celebrated ahead of the Assembly elections in five states of India this year, the National Voters' Day will have the former President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, as its chief guest. Dr.Kalam will distribute Elector Photo Identity Cards to 20 newly enrolled voters of Delhi and also award district electoral officers and superintendent of police for adopting best electoral practices.

This year, 1.6 crore persons will be enrolled on the occasion in various states and union territories.