The Issue of Voter Turnout in Indian Elections

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.

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.

2. Decreasing Voter Turnout

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?

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.