[Podcast] Every Vote Matters

In collaboration with

Every Vote Matters or EVM is our attempt at breaking down the electoral process of our nation and hearing from you, our listeners what voting means to you and what being part of a democracy means for you. Through this podcast, we will bring to you interviews with officials who are responsible for organising elections, with experts who will break down what NOTA means and how election funding works; with researchers who will tell you why women, who hold up half the sky, are not being given equal seat at the table; with those who are fighting hard for NRIs to be allowed to vote and allowed to remain active participants in shaping their nation’s future.

Episode 1 – Why our Vote matters?
In the 1st episode, you will hear from @rakeshdubbudu on why he thinks youngsters are key to every election, more so in 2019

Additional Reading : 1951 to 2014 – How did the Lok Sabha election numbers change?

Episode 2 – How to become a Voter?
In this episode of “How to become a voter”, we bring to you an interview with Ranbir Singh, Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi. Mr Ranbir will take us through how one can become a voter, the process of shifting your vote among other things.

Additional Reading & Watching

1. How to become an Indian Voter?
2. Episode 1& 2 of DECODE English on Elections
3. Episode 1& 2 of DECODE Hindi on Elections

Episode 3 – Can NRIs & Migrants Vote?

In this episode, we bring conversations with Nagender Chindam, founder and chairman of Pravasi Bharat, a campaign group championing for the right of NRIs to vote and Parimal Maya Sudhakar, Professor of International relations and Indian politics at MIT World Peace University, Pune who will tell us why internal migrants are unable to vote.

Additional Reading1. Can the NRI Vote make an impact?

2. Less than 1% NRIs registered as voters. More than 90% of the registered from Kerala

Episode 4 – Women representation in Politics
In this episode, we talk about how and why women’s representation in politics is so poor in our country. You will hear from Bhanupriya Rao, transparency and accountability campaigner and researcher. You will also hear from Tara Krishnaswamy of Shakti, India’s Women Caucus.

Additional Reading & Watching

1. Women MPs in Lok Sabha: How have the numbers changed?
2. Women in Parliament: Where does India figure among the rest of the World?
3. Representation to Participation: Women in Panchayat Raj Institutions & State Assemblies
4. Women Ministers: Breaking the Glass Ceiling

Episode 5 – Model Code of Conduct (MCC) & the role of Observer
In this episode, we discuss about the model code of conduct. How many of us really know what an observer does? Or even who an observer is? We reached out to Ravi Kiran Edara, IRS, Additional Commissioner, Customs and GST department, Government of India to understand more what Model Code of Conduct is and more importantly role of an observer and specifically the role of an expenditure observer.

Additional Reading & Watching

1. What is the Model Code of Conduct?
2. Explainer Video on the Model Code of Conduct

Episode 6 – Do you vote for a party or the candidate?
In this episode, we discuss about the role of Independents and if one should vote for a party or a candidate. We spoke to Yogendra Yadav, Indian politician, psephologist and academic President of Swaraj India. This episode also features interviews with transgender activist Bharati Kannamma and Umeshbabu Pillegowda who is contesting an independent candidate from North Bengaluru.

Additional Reading

1. The Diminishing role of Independents in Lok Sabha elections

Episode 7 – All about Affidavits, NOTA & Political Funding
In this episode, we speak to Major General Anil Verma of the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) on what an affidavit is and its relevance in the electoral process. He also talks to us about the emergence of NOTA and its relevance and also on the current state of political funding in India.

Additional Reading