India’s elections: A lesson in democracy

This year there are approximately 900 million eligible voters. It is reported that there are around 11 million poll workers and 2.3 million EVMs. India is doing all it can to ensure that all who desire to vote can do so regardless of their literacy or location

On May 23, the six-week long Indian election process will end. Votes will be counted and a winner will be declared. No matter who wins, the real winner will be India’s democracy. That is why May 23 should be a day for unbridled celebration for all Indians regardless of results. I have watched in awe as this year’s election in India has unfolded.

It brought back memories of India’s 2014 election. The scope and size of that election was unrivalled in the history of the world. There were 815 million eligible Indian voters at that election. The registration for that election was more than 100 million voters higher than the 2009 election - an increase of almost 15 percent. The election process required approximately 1.1 million government workers and 5.5 million employees to help voters at 1.4 million voting machines (EVMs) in 930,00 polling stations. The voter turnout of over 66 per cent was the highest in the history of India’s national elections.

The inspiring thing about that voter registration and turnout is that the government worked diligently to make it happen. In the lead-up to that election, the Election Commission implemented a national initiative called Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP).

Former Chief Election Commissioner H S Brahma, in the run up to the election, said SVEEP did work “on a massive scale to educate voters, especially the vulnerable ones - illiterate, poor, marginalized - and women and youth.”

This year there are approximately 900 million eligible voters. It is reported that there are around 11 million poll workers and 2.3 million EVMs. India is doing all it can to ensure that all who desire to vote can do so regardless of their literacy or location. Writing in the Washington Post, Niha Masih highlights that, for the first time, India’s voting machines have a candidate’s photo along with the party symbol. India’s seven national parties and 64 state parties have their own symbols. The Election Commission has a pool of “free” symbols” that can be used by thousands of other, smaller party organizations countrywide.

Elsewhere, she tells the wonderful story of a team of election workers who travelled 300 miles over mountainous roads and shaky bridges for four days to set up a polling booth for one voter. This tale says it all about the desire of India to enfranchise its voters.

Its focus is to expand the voting pool and increase participation. That stands in stark contrast to the emphasis in the United States in recent national election cycles, which has been to attempt to restrict and/or reduce participation.

New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice says, since the 2010 elections, 25 states have new restrictions in place to make it harder to vote; 14 of those had new voting restrictions during the 2016 presidential contest between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

This comparison shows that India’s election process empowers voters. Ornit Shani, a scholar at the University of Haifa, says that approach can be traced to the founding of the country. Her book, How India Became Democratic: Citizenship and Making the Universal Franchise details how India was established as a country empowering its diverse population as voters. In his article for Foreign Affairs, Ruchir Sharma cites that diversity as a strength observing, “India’s diversity is also a source of political resilience, as strong subnational identities provide a check on ethnic and religious nationalism.” He asserts, “At a time when democracy is said to be in retreat around the world it is still thriving in India.”

I concur with his assessment. I am an Indian American proud to be a citizen of the United States and proud of my Indian heritage. It makes me even more proud that India’s election is teaching a lesson in democracy from which the US and world can learn. That lesson is that enhancing and enabling citizen participation in the political and electoral process makes a democracy more vital and vibrant.

May 23 should be a day to celebrate Indian democracy. It is not perfect - far from it. But India’s democracy shines as a beacon of light in a world becoming increasingly darker. India has the potential to be a champion of democracy around the globe. If it realizes that potential it will bring a new dawn for democracy in the 21st century.