So far, three phases of voting have been completed out of the seven, with the fourth phase currently ongoing and scheduled to continue on May 13. These phases have seen voter turnouts of 66.1%, 66.7%, and 61% respectively, marking a roughly three percent decrease from the 2019 elections. This decline has naturally raised questions about voter engagement in the world’s largest democracy, prompting businesses to contribute to raising voting awareness.
As part of this effort, hotels and restaurants have stepped up to offer special discounts to voters who show their inked fingers.
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Voters can avail of a 10-20% discount on their meals simply by showing that they voted. But where can these discounts be found?
Mahabaleshwar
A restaurant called Meghna Food Studio, situated right next to Nakinda bus stop is offering a generous 25% discount to voters. Naresh Jain, the owner, expressed his motivation behind this initiative, stating, “I was planning to do something for voter awareness because I believe it’s also a part of nation-building. It’s vacation time and lots of people are coming to Mahabaleshwar, so we decided to offer the discount.”
Jain further emphasised the importance of voting, especially for the youth, saying, “Especially the youth should know that it’s not just our right to vote but also our duty. So everyone should vote, putting all other things aside.” Jain, who is actively involved in social work, sees this discount as a means to promote civic engagement.
Delhi
In the national capital, businesses are also rallying to ensure a high voter turnout. Deepak Mehta, president of the Old Delhi Hotel Association, announced special discounts and offers on May 25 and 26 for voters. Hotels around Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, and Delhi Gate are offering discounts of up to 25%.
Moreover, the Delhi Hotel Association is extending an additional 20% discount on bookings in hotels and guesthouses in Paharganj and Karol Bagh for all voters. Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Mishra of Karol Bagh Zone underscored the initiative’s objective, stating, “The initiative aims to encourage citizens to actively participate in the democratic process and fulfill their civic duty.”
He added, “By offering tangible benefits to voters, the market and hotel associations hope to increase voter turnout and promote civic engagement in the Karol Bagh and Najafgarh areas.”
Mumbai
In Mumbai, where all six constituencies are set to vote in the fifth phase, several hotels and restaurants are gearing up to offer a 10-20% discount to customers who cast their votes in the Lok Sabha elections. This initiative, known as “Pledge To Vote,” is spearheaded by the Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) – HRAWI, with the aim of promoting voter awareness and increasing participation in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Solan, Himachal
Hotels and restaurants in Solan are also joining the effort to encourage voter turnout. They will be offering a 20% discount to voters on polling day as part of the district administration’s push to encourage people to vote.
Solan Deputy Commissioner Manmohan Sharma revealed that the Solan administration has already partnered with 20 hotels and restaurants as part of the ‘Eat Pure, Vote For Sure’ campaign, as reported by Deccan Herald. More eateries are expected to join this initiative until voting day on June 1.
And it’s not just hotels and restaurants; other businesses like cinema halls, jewellers, and mobile phone shops are also joining in, offering discounts on voting days in their respective areas.
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So, don’t miss your chance to flex your voting muscle and bag some sweet perks in the process.
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