The Mumbai unit of the Youth Congress says it is a “secular” approach to Valentine’s Day. The volunteers will woo the youth with an unusual gift - get your partner registered as a voter and give him a gift to cast his vote in the next elections.

From today, the Youth Congress will put up help desks in the University of Mumbai, SNDT University and Patkar College distributing registration forms to kick-start their campaign in getting thousands of youngsters registered voters. By next week, similar help desks would be opened across all colleges in the city.

The effort has the nod of the state election commissioners, whose officials want the volunteers to complete the entire process of registration of the GenNext rather than filling forms. Banners across the city would guide those interested to enroll on proof of identification and other requirements.

“The entire campaign is planned in three phases. First, we will distribute the forms. Here, volunteers will also help students in filling forms. In the next phase, we would segregate forms area-wise. Then, volunteers would inform applicants of a particular date on which they should accompany them to election offices and complete the process of registration,” said Nitesh Rane, general secretary, Youth Congress. Party activists found many young men eager to vote for the recent civic polls, but didn’t know how the system worked.

“All NGOs worked towards creating awareness to vote, but none told the youngsters how to get enrolled. We will create awareness, help them to enroll and even ensure they get a voter identification card,” added Sanjay Thakur, vice-president, Youth Congress, city unit.

Rane said the majority of the recent 46 per cent voter turnout in the city came from slum areas.

“Lack of information about voter registration and its procedure are keeping lakhs of youngsters away from the system. We are using political platform to make the youth understand their social responsibility. So this V-day, why not gift your partner his legal right to change the system?” he said. Armed with thousands of forms and CD of electoral rolls from the Election Commission, the Congress volunteers are enthusiastic for their unique celebration.“We will soon target housing societies to get the affluent class for registration as their voice, too, matters, ” said Thakur.