CHANDIGARH,07.02.24-The Election Department, U.T., Chandigarh, announced Ms. Samaira Sandhu as its state icon in a grand event organised by the Department of Social Welfare, U.T., Chandigarh, today at the Government College of Education, Sector 20, Chandigarh.

The event was graced by Sh. Saurabh Arora, Joint Chief Electoral Officer, U.T., Chandigarh; Smt. Palika Arora, Nodal Officer SVEEP, Chief Director Social Welfare, U.T., Chandigarh; and Sh. Naveen Rattu, Joint Director Social Welfare, U.T., Chandigarh.
Ms. Samaira Sandhu expressed her gratitude to the Election Commission of India for appointing her as the State Icon for U.T. Chandigarh. She said, "It's a privilege that comes with a profound responsibility. We live in a democratic country where people from different cultures, religions, and castes have a special right to cast their vote. As a state icon, I assure you that I will encourage and make all the voters around Chandigarh aware of the need to cast their vote and participate in the upcoming general election in 2024 with a great spirit and an unbiased mindset.
During the event, Sh. Saurabh Arora, Joint Chief Electoral Officer, U.T., Chandigarh, congratulated Sh. Samaira Sandhu for being appointed as state icon for U.T., Chandigarh, for the upcoming election in 2024. Sh. Arora motivated all the young voters and said that elections are a homogeneous exercise, and all the preparation has already been started since last year. The Election Department, U.T. Chandigarh, has organised various activities recently in order to make youth aware of their rights. Recently, we have directed all the schools and colleges to provide 100 percent enrollment certificates. The Voter Helpline App and Vorter Portal are two online platforms through which everyone may avail of all the services related to the electoral process online. Also, any voter may check their name on the electoral roll through these online platforms as well. Let’s take a pledge to utilise our voting rights in the upcoming election 2024 and achieve the target of 75 percent voter turnout easily.
In the said event, the WhatsApp channel of the Election Commission of India was also popularised.

Smt. Palika Arora, Nodal Officer, SVEEP, gave the vote of thanks by expressing her gratitude towards Sh. Saurabh Arora for joining the event, Samaira Sandhu for being appointed as a state icon for U.T. Chandigarh, and Dr. Sapra Nanda, Principal, Government College of Education, Sector 20, Chandigarh, for organising the event. Smt. Arora also stated that all citizens should follow the ECI WhatsApp channel, which will provide them with the latest developments related to the electoral process.The chief guests awarded the winner of the poster-making competition on the theme of electoral literacy and Newsletter of the ELC club of the college headed by Dr. Nisha Singh was presented to the guests, at the event’s conclusion.