The delay on the part of Election Commission of India (ECI) in uploading the final voter turnout data and the issue of low Voter Turnout, has gained prominence during the ongoing Lok Sabha Elections.
A 3-Judge Supreme Court (SC) bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud is slated to a petition filed by the NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), regarding the discrepancies in Voter Turnout Data. The petition seeks SC to give directions to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to upload polling station-wise voter turnout data on its website within 48 hours of the conclusion of polling for each phase of the Lok Sabha elections.
Also, the voter turnout has showed a notable decline across several states, compared to the 2019 and 2014 elections. For ex- Assam has witnessed a drop from 85.3% in 2019 to 74.6% in 2024. This declining trend of voter turnout raises questions about voter engagement in the world’s largest democracy and highlights the need for further analysis and understanding of the factors contributing to it.
What is the significance of enhanced voter turnout?
1. Enhanced Legitimacy and mandate of the chosen government- Transparently produced higher voter turnout data, suggests that the chosen government enjoys a broad support from the electorate. Hence, it provides legitimacy and a stronger mandate to the elected government.
2. Enhanced accountability and representation- High voter turnout holds politicians more accountable to their constituents. It also ensures the institution of a more representative government, appealing for a larger and more diverse electorate.
3. Promotes Democratic Health and Civic Education- A high and transparent voter turnout is an indicator of a healthy democracy with strong civic norms and institutions. For ex- Ease of voting, competitive electoral process and strong political participation.
4. Social Cohesion- Lower participation of voters, exacerbate feelings of alienation and division within society, which undermines the social fabric and national unity.
What are the issues related to Voter Turnout In India?
1. Opacity in Voter Turnout Calculation and Publication
Availability of Proper data is important to calculate the actual voter turnout. It is also important to compare it to the past trends, so that corrective actions can be taken to resolve issues faced by voters.
The recent controversy, highlighting discrepancies in the calculation and publication of Voter turnout data, has evoked sharp criticisms from the Opposition and civil society. Following are the details of the controversy:
a. A significant delay and a sizeable difference in the initial turnout figures released by the ECI and the final voter percentages published subsequently.
Only voting percentages have been published by the ECI. There has been significant delay on the part of ECI to publish the final voter percentage. The final voter percentage has been published 11 days after the first phase of polling held on April 19 and 4 days after the second phase of polling held on April 26.
The provisional polling percentages for the first phase released by the ECI at 7 pm on April 19 was about 60% and for the second phase on April 26 was 60.96%. However, there has been a substantial increase in the final figures released by ECI. For the first phase, it stood at 66.14% (an increase of more than 5.5%) and for the second phase, it stood at 66.71% (an increase of more than 5.74%).
b. Non publication of the absolute number of votes polled in constituency as contained in Form 17C by the ECI
Political parties have raised the concerns regarding the ECI’s preclusion from publishing the exact voter turnout data of each polling station, as contained in Form 17C. Also, some candidates have complained about the delay in receiving Form 17C from the returning officer.
As per the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 Rules, the ECI has to maintain two forms that have data on the number of electors and the votes polled- Forms 17A and 17C.
| Form 17A | It is used to record the details of every voter who comes into a polling booth and casts his or her vote. |
| Form 17C | It is an account of all the actual votes recorded. It contains information about the total number of voters as entered in the register for voters (Form 17A), the number of voters who decided not to record their votes after signing the register and the number of voters who were not allowed to vote. Part I of Form 17C also contains crucial information like- a. The identification numbers of the EVMs used in the polling station b. The total number of test votes and votes recorded per EVM b. The total number of electors assigned to the polling station Part II of Form 17C contains the results of the counting carried out on the stipulated day. |
The data in Form 17C is used by candidates to verify the results on the counting day by matching it with the EVM count. An election petition can be moved in the concerned High Court in case of any discrepancies.
Voter Turnout has declined in both rural and urban areas. There are few reasons which are leading to a decline in the voting percentage, both in urban and rural areas:
a. Urban Voter Apathy- Parliamentary constituencies in various urban cities such as Mumbai, Thane, Nashik and Lucknow have displayed the trend of urban apathy in voting.
b. Missing Voter Slips- Voters have also complained of deletion of their names from the electoral rolls and not being provided the voter slips in time for voting.
c. Heat impacting Voter Turnout- The extreme heat of April and May has affected voter turnout by discouraging people, especially those in rural areas, from travelling long distances to vote.
What Steps have been taken by the Election Commission to address the issues with Voter Turnout?
| Transparency in Voter Turnout Calculation and Publication | Mandatory sharing of Form 17C- Copies of Form 17C are shared by the presiding officers with polling agents present under Rule 49S(2) of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. Hence, the candidates are aware and in possession of exact voter turnout data in absolute numbers even before it is known to the ECI. |
| Increasing Voter Turnout | Addressing Voter Apathy a. Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) program- ECI launched the Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) program in 2010 to educate voters about the importance of voting. b. Turnout Implementation Plan (TIP)- Targeted interventions under the Turnout Implementation Plan (TIP) have been undertaken to boost participation in low turnout constituencies. c. Revision of electoral rolls- Regular revision of electoral rolls to remove duplicate and ineligible names while adding new eligible voters has been undertaken by ECI. Heat Wave Impact a. Task Force Creation: The Election Commission of India has formed a task force with officials from the IMD, NDMA, and MoHFW to review the impact of heat waves and humidity. b.Health Authority Instructions: EC has directed the MoHFW to prepare state health authorities for assisting in heat wave conditions affecting election operations. c. Enhanced facilities at Polling Stations- EC has arranged for shelters, drinking water, and fans at polling stations to help voters cope with the heat. |
Read More- Electoral Reforms In India- Explained Pointwise
What should be the Way Forward?
1. Online Publication of absolute voting data by ECI based on Form 17C data- ECI refrains from disclosing Form 17C data as they fear ‘confusion in the minds of voters’ as it also includes postal ballot counts. ECI also fears misuse by persons with motivated interests to cast aspersion on the whole electoral process.
However, ECI must take progressive steps to allay these fears and publish absolute voting data of Form 17C on its website, as smaller political parties cannot afford to have polling agents in all booths or constituencies due to financial constraints.
2. Ready availability of Form 17C- The issues of delay in providing Form 17C data by the returning officers must be addressed by the ECI.
3. Rescheduling of Elections- ECI must consider adjusting the election timetable to cooler months to enhance voter comfort and participation, avoiding the peak heat of April to June.
4. Enhancement of On-site Facilities- There must be expansion of the provision of shelters, fans, and water at all polling stations, to better accommodate voters and staff during hot weather.
5. Collaborative Task Force Review: ECI must maintain and expand the task force that reviews weather impacts before each polling phase, to ensure timely and effective response measures.
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