Shillong: The chief electoral officer of Meghalaya, Frederick Roy Kharkongor, has said the electoral literacy clubs (ELCs) will act as bridges to help transform young voters of the state into responsible citizens.

"This will basically be a vehicle or a bridge that will help a young and future voter become a responsible and mature citizen," Kharkongor said at an awareness programme on special summary revision-2019 and launch of ELCs in the state here on Tuesday.

The programme was organised by the office of the chief electoral officer, Meghalaya.

The main objectives in forming ELCs are voters' education, familiarising young voters on functioning and concept of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT), to harness the potential of ELC members and ensure that all those who have attained the age of 18 as on January 1, 2019, are enrolled and eligible to vote.

While stating that the task of the ELCs is in ensuring "a fertile soil for democracy" to flourish, Kharkongor said the aim of an ELC is to facilitate students in schools and colleges so that they come to know the right reasons to vote.

"They should feel that they are serving the nation and have faith in ballot. Out of 18,42,000 electorate in Meghalaya, two lakh are eligible to vote, but are yet to be enrolled."

According to Kharkongor, this "gap" is the highest in East Khasi Hills (17 constituencies) with 84,237 voters out of which Nongkrem Assembly constituency alone has 18,918 voters followed by Mawryngkneng with a gap of 7,900, Mawkynrew with 6771 and Shillong (East) with 6,700. In Ri Bhoi district the gap is 18, 235.

In Garo hills, the gap is the highest in West Garo Hills (11 constituencies) with Tikrikilla having 7,998 voters.

South Garo Hills has 19,000 voters and North Garo Hills 10,000.

"These districts are major contributors to this gap of two lakh. It is our task to ensure that these eligible voters are enrolled. We have advised our officials to go for targeted inclusion," Kharkongor said.

He added that in 2017, under the programme Mission Unite, the administration had visited schools and colleges where about 93,000 young voters between the age group of 18 and 19 enrolled themselves.

Earlier, the extra assistant commissioner, West Khasi Hills, Shan Warjri, had said there are 363 ELCs in the state.

"We have formed five ELCs in universities, 15 in colleges, 91 in schools, 232 at village community level and 20 in government departments. We have done this within six months, but still there is a long way to go," Warjri said.