Voters in Tamil Nadu can avail a 10% discount on their bill in restaurants come this election day. The discounts can be availed showing their election id card and the voting mark on their index finger. The Tamil Nadu hotel association with close to hundred restaurants under its belt has announced the discount on bills of those who vote. The outlets in which this discount will be applicable include Hotel Saravana Bhavan, Hotel Sangeetha, Hot Chips, Vasantha Bhavan, etc. Around 1200 restaurants come under this association.
TNHA decided to implement the idea after a district electoral officer suggested that they use different rubber stamps on the bill to increase voter turnout. However, members of the association thought the discount was a better idea to encourage voting and went ahead with it. Customers can walk into any prominent restaurant and avail the discount, but it is not mandatory for the restaurant to have displayed the announcement of the offer in their outlet.
The Election Commission of India has adopted several mechanisms to ensure 100% voter turnout in Tamil Nadu. Trichy district election officers have undertaken various campaigns like distributing free cloth bags in markets with the message to vote printed on them, distributing printed bookmarks with the ECI message on them, etc.
