The Election Commission's initiatives to increase voter turnout include all EXCEPT:
- Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme
- Introduction of NOTA (None of the Above) option in EVMs
- Mandatory voting with penalties for non-participation
- Special enrollment drives for marginalized groups
Answer: Mandatory voting with penalties for non-participation
ECI voter turnout initiatives: (a) SVEEP programme: Multi-pronged strategy to educate voters, build awareness, encourage participation through campaigns, media outreach, civil society collaboration, (b) NOTA option: Introduced following Supreme Court direction (PUCL case, 2013) to enable voters to reject all candidates if dissatisfied; enhances voter choice, expression, (c) Special enrollment drives: Targeted efforts to enroll marginalized groups (migrants, homeless, disabled, women) through awareness campaigns, assistance with documentation, mobile enrollment units, (d) NOT initiative: Mandatory voting with penalties - India does not have compulsory voting; ECI focuses on encouraging participation through awareness, accessibility, not coercion, (e) Applications: (i) Increased turnout: SVEEP, enrollment drives contributed to higher voter turnout, especially among women, youth, marginalized groups, (ii) Informed participation: Voter education enables citizens to make informed choices, strengthening democratic process, (iii) Inclusion: Special drives ensure electoral rolls reflect all eligible citizens, enhancing representativeness, (f) Illustrates democratic deepening: ECI operationalizes constitutional mandate (Article 324) beyond election conduct to voter education, inclusion; initiatives strengthen democratic culture, informed citizenship.