Several corporate firms in Mumbai are likely to keep flexible office timings on February 21, polling day for the BMC elections, so as to ensure a larger voter turnout. Mumbai First, a city-based think tank, is in talks with 10-15 corporate houses and business groups in the city to let their employees go out and vote. “Up to 10-15 corporate groups in Mumbai have registered on our site and agreed to implement this model in their offices to promote voting on election day. The aim remains to ensure that the city at least crosses a 60 per cent mark in voting for the coming elections. It will also be to target the working urban middle class and facilitate voting from their end to the largest extent,” said Shishir Joshi, CEO Mumbai First.

 

The move also calls for forming inter-departmental teams with respective team leaders who can motivate their members to come out and vote.

 

A few corporate groups in the city including MCX stock exchange, Vodafone, and Mahindra and Mahindra have agreed to implement the model in their office circles. During the last elections in 2012, the voter turnout was only 45 per cent. “We have agreed to ensure time flexibilities on the voting day to ensure maximum participation in voting. We are yet to decide on how the formation of teams will be and this may take another week. It is a personal effort taken so that enough voting for elections is ensured,” said a spokesperson for Vodafone.

 

“Data from the last four elections shows that every time elections are held in Mumbai, less than 45 per cent of registered voters have exercised their franchise. The process would need to commence in the present pre-polling time when leaders should remind their members about making or keeping their voter cards ready.Through this, they can expect more members from their respective teams to go out to vote. Encouraging voting through posting videos on social media about their efforts will also be an aim,” said Joshi.