While polling was underway for the Delhi Assembly elections on Wednesday, various initiatives were rolled out in the national capital to increase voter participation. From discounts at restaurants and salons to exclusive deals in Dhabas, voters could avail of various offers by just showing their inked fingers.
The Election Commission took steps to make the voting process more inclusive this time by providing wheelchairs and deploying staff to assist differently abled voters. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) set up pink booths and PwD (person with disabilities) booths. Civil Lines Zone Pink booth bathed in pink balloons and flowers had only women staff with the theme ‘Leading Women, Leading Nation’. Similarly, the PwD booth embraced the theme of “Achiever” which served as an encouragement for persons with disabilities and helped them participate in the election process with pride.
Yogesh, a voter, shared his experience and praised the Election Commission on their commendable job. “There are wheelchairs as well as staff to help the differently abled people. The process is very smooth and I did not come across any problem while casting my vote,” he said.
A unique polling station was set up in Vikaspuri with the theme 'Chandrayan se chunav tak Bharat ki udaan'. The booth was equipped with telescopes while polling staff were dressed up as astronauts, which adds an element of entertainment, making the voting process more fun. Additionally, a model polling station at Bosco Public School featured yoga and sports to engage voters.
The private sector also joined the initiative making the voting more rewarding. Swiggy Dineout announced up to 50 per cent off on a bill if one shows the inked finger. This information was shared by the company on X.
Several restaurants such as Yeti – The Himalayan Kitchen, Jaypee Siddharth and Jaypee Vasant Continental, and Café Delhi Heights also offered 15-20 per cent discounts.
The Chambers of Trade and Industries announced that salons and beauty parlours were also giving discounts, and almost 500 beauty parlours and salons joined this initiative. Discounts upto 15-20 per cent will be given on February 6, the next day after the voting, as per reports.
However, not all responses were positive. Several elderly people complained about the lack of amenities such as wheelchairs and drinking water at the polling booths. Manoj Kumar who cast his vote at Krishnanagar constituency shared his disappointment regarding the arrangement. “It is fine overall but they do not have any wheelchair or vehicle to help the elderly and disabled voters. Everyone is coming with their own vehicles and wheelchairs," he said.
Even with a few roadblocks, Delhi's voting campaign stood out because of its imaginative approach mixing civic duty with community involvement. Polling stations with special themes, perks, and inclusive efforts point to a change in how elections are being viewed—not just as a duty, but as a way to celebrate democracy. From getting a discount at a coffee shop to checking out a space-themed voting booth, people in Delhi are being urged to show up in big numbers and participate in the festival of democracy.