India Voters Offered Free Beer, Food And Cab Rides To Participate In Elections

• The seven-phase general elections in India began on Friday, April 19, and are set to end on Saturday June 1
• Business firms in Bengaluru, a city in India are working together with the government to increase voter turnout in the area
• These firms offer free or discounted services like free health check-ups, food, beer or cab services within the area

Bengaluru, a city in Southern India is often on the spot for low voter turnout during general elections.

To solve this problem, taxi companies, hotels, and other firms are working together to offer free services to encourage people to vote.

The free services mostly offered are medical checkups, cab rides food, and beer.

India General Election

According to a report done by BBC, some hotels require clients to show their finger stained with ink as proof of having voted.

The city is carrying out the second round of India's seven-phase election on Friday, April 26.

On Wednesday, April 24, the state's high court granted permission for an association of hotels to provide food either for free or at discounted prices, provided such actions did not contravene election guidelines.

The report further stated that after the court order, many companies in the city began announcing offers to encourage residents to vote, following initial encouragement efforts initiated the previous week.

Beer for India voters

For instance, Wonderla, a popular amusement park, is offering discounted tickets to voters, while Deck of Brews, a city pub, is providing complimentary beer to the first 50 customers who have voted.

Blu-Smart, a ridesharing app, is extending a 50% discount to passengers traveling within a 30km (18 miles) radius of polling stations, and taxi aggregator Rapido is offering free rides to individuals with disabilities and elderly voters.

The general elections in India started on Friday, April 19 and will be conducted till Saturday, June 1.

Politician ferrying Ugandans to vote

During the Kenyan general elections on August 9, police officers in Trans Nzoia county intercepted two lorries that were allegedly transporting Ugandans to a polling station in the Endebess. constituency.

According to Endebess OCPD Salesioh Muriithi, officers reported that the area MP, Robert Pokuse, was escorting suspected foreigners who allegedly intended to participate in Kenya's ongoing election.

Muriithi informed TUKO.co.ke that they had received information indicating that individuals from Bukwo district in Uganda had crossed the border to take part in the elections.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.