Thiruvananthapuram | The Election Commission on Friday said it will be carrying out a state-wide awareness campaign to encourage the youth in Kerala to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming Assembly election on April 9.

The campaign -- 'My Vote, My Strength' -- will be a joint effort by the EC, Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA) and the police, the poll panel said in a statement.

The initiative will be inaugurated on Saturday evening at Manaveeyam Veedhi in the heart of the state capital, the statement said.

The poll panel said that in the last few elections, there has been clear trend of declining voter turnout among the youth and the reasons for it appear to be reluctance and apathy towards voting.

According to EC figures, the 18-29 age group comprises over 50 lakh voters in the state.

In order to make the youth aware of the importance to vote and to encourage them to do so, the campaign will make use of street plays, flash mobs, awarness classes by KeLSA panel lawyers and para-legal volunteers, dialogues with new voters and distribution of pamphlets, the EC said.

Street plays, flash mobs and awareness classes have been organised at all the taluk centers and important intersections of local self-government institutions in the state, it said.

"The concept of 'My Vote, My Power' is to ensure that every citizen recognises the value of their vote and uses it correctly without giving in to any temptations," the statement said.