Shyam Saran Negi was the first one to vote in Indian General Elections held in 1951. He was the voter from a Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh. Negi has voted in all the elections till date, his name is also in the list of the upcoming general elections of 2019. He is a great ambassador of democracy has always have been a great supporter of voting rights. Every election, he urges people to go out an exercise their voting right. He is 103 years old and is still going strong and ready to vote in the upcoming elections.

Recognition from Election Commission of India 

In 2007, election commission of India tracked him down, while they were looking for the oldest voters in the country. He was first spotted by the Indian Administrative Service officer Nanda, he saw Negi’s electoral ID card. He saw him while he was looking for voters of more than 90 years; soon Negi was visited by the officers of EIC. Nanda went on to say that finding Negi was almost like doing a Ph.D., and he was happy to find Negi. Nanda was surprised by the enthusiasm of the Negi at the age of 92 years.
Negi was a government school teacher during first general elections and was also given the duty of polling booths. 1951 general Elections in Kinnaur District of Himachal Pradesh were held before anywhere else in the country, due to the winters. As Negi was on polling duty, he requested the polling officer to allow him to vote first and then start with his duty.
Negi went on to become the brand ambassador of Election commission of India’s campaign for voters. The campaign is to influence the voters and inform them to exercise their voting rights. Negi is the perfect man for the job as he has voted in every election since independence,  he is a great supporter of voting rights. Even before he was an ambassador, he always encourages people around him, to go out and vote.



Popularity 'Shyam Saran Negi'

After the news broke out of Negi as the first voter of Independent India, he was visited by various news agencies. He and his family were interviewed by various print and TV media. He was honored by EIC. EIC also records Negi every election, while he is casting his vote since 2007. He also made an appearance in a Bollywood movie. Negi has been featured in many YouTube videos and news documentaries.  Negi has used his popularity for the betterment of the society by urging them to vote. Shyam Saran Negi was born on July 1, 1917, while being of 103 years in upcoming general elections. He is the true inspiration in every sense; he is the best ambassador of voting rights not only in India but all over the world.  Nanda and EIC did a great job by bringing him to the limelight; it helped EIC to push their voter’s campaign. He was rightly honored by the EIC.