The cost of voter apathy

It creates a fertile ground for injustice and inequality to take root and perpetuates a cycle of disenfranchisement

EVERY SINGLE VOTE is a thread that weaves together the fabric of our democratic society. However, what India faces today is voter apathy or indifference of the electorate. To strengthen the democratic process, more and more people must come forward to vote, as also encourage and motivate others to do so. As Bharat stands on the cusp of a critical inflection point, and with the commencement of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, active participation in elections, particularly from the youth, is necessary for a vibrant democracy.

Reports say approximately 297 million eligible voters did not vote in the general elections to the Lok Sabha in 2019. This staggering figure highlights the scale of the problem. Moreover, elections in various states have highlighted clear trends of urban indifference towards the electoral process. Taken together, these factors call for targeted interventions and collaborative efforts.

What is a cause for concern is that less than 40 per cent first-time voters are said to have registered for the Lok Sabha polls, with Bihar standing at the bottom rung of the ladder — only 9.3 lakh first-time voters are reported to have enrolled in the state which has a potential 54 lakh voters. Only 17 per cent of the 18–19-year-olds have registered to vote in Bihar and 23 per cent in Uttar Pradesh. Chattisgarh, on the other hand, has a more satisfying rate of registration at 54 per cent in the case of first-timers. Telangana has recorded an impressive 67 per cent while neighbouring Andhra Pradesh is slightly behind at 50 per cent, Kerala has a mere 38 per cent registration of first-timers while Delhi, the national capital and nerve-centre of politics, has a low 21 per cent rate of registration. This is a very unhealthy sign in the world’s largest democracy.

When it comes to voter turnout, the voting percentage in Uttar Pradesh was a low 59.11 per cent in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Out of the total 50 rural parliamentary constituencies across 11 states identified with lower voter turnout than the national average in 2019, 40 constituencies are from both the states of UP and Bihar (22) and (18) respectively. Of the 50 Lok Sabha constituencies with the lowest voter turnout in the 2019 general elections, 17 were found to be in our metros, mirroring a growing trend of urban apathy.

Ahead of the polling in the ongoing general elections 2024, the Election Commission of India (ECI) accelerated efforts to enhance voter turnout, drawing up a roadmap aimed at enhancing voter engagement and participation in identified urban and rural constituencies. It launched a slew of initiatives which include officials reaching out to voters in a targeted manner. The ECI spelt out a three-pronged strategy of providing facilitation at polling stations like queue management, sheltered parking in congested areas; targeted outreach and communication; and involvement of critical stakeholders like RWAS, local icons and youth influencers to persuade people to come to polling stations, among several others. It also directed officials to prepare a booth-wise action plan for enhanced participation and attitudinal change. It has also asked the authorities to act in a manner that instils pride among the voters in participating in the democratic festivities.

Self-motivation is the key. The authorities are doing everything in their power to motivate voters and inculcate a sense of pride and responsibility in them. For instance, the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme has a number of measures to bring about voter awareness. This includes rolling out public transport and sanitation vehicles carrying essential election messages, incorporating voter awareness messages into utility bills for widespread dissemination, collaborating with Resident Welfare Associations (RWAS) and voter awareness forums, and hosting informative sessions at popular public spaces such as parks, markets, and malls, among others.

Leveraging the power of social media platforms for extensive voter outreach and engagement is yet another key initiative undertaken by the ECI whose theme of “chunav ka parv, desh ka parv” is expected to boost voter turnout. The ECI has undertaken a new initiative of setting up polling stations within gated communities and multi-storeyed housing societies in urban areas, where there has been low voter turnout in the past. Integrated multimedia campaigns and targeted initiatives like #Meravotedeshkeliye are expected to yield positive results in the upcoming general elections.

Voter apathy, especially among the youth, is a symptom of a deeper malaise in our system. When citizens disengage themselves from the electoral process, they automatically allow others to dictate the course of their lives. The core principle of democracy is active participation and a system built on the principle of collective decision-making. Ultimately, the will of the people should guide the actions of their representatives. Yet, when large segments of the population abstain from voting, the legitimacy of the entire democratic process comes into question.

Voter apathy creates a fertile ground for injustice and inequality to take root and perpetuates a cycle of disenfranchisement. To break free from this cycle which imperils the democratic system, we must recognise the power inherent in every vote. Each vote reflects a statement of belief in the democratic ideals upon which our society is built.

I appeal to all my countrymen, particularly the youth of the nation, to participate actively in the democratic process. This is a time to come together to ensure that democracy remains vibrant and inclusive. It is a time to reaffirm our commitment to the democratic process. Let us stand united in our resolve to safeguard the principles of democracy and build a future that reflects the will of the people. We must remember that voting is not only our right, but also our responsibility.

The writer is the former Vice-president of India