Voter apathy: EC has to find solutions

What’s keeping Indian voters away from polling booths this parliamentary election, which is drawing close to the final phase with the last round of voting scheduled to happen on June 1? The numbers on voter participation in the first six phases speak for themselves.

The first phase saw only 66.14 per cent voters turn up compared to the 2019 polls, when the turnout in the first phase was 69.43 per cent. In the second phase of the 2024 elections, the turnout was recorded at 66.71 per cent as against the 69.64 per cent in the second phase in 2019.

The voter-turnout figure for the third phase was again an abysmal 65.68 per cent while in the 2019 elections, the turnout was 68.4 per cent.

The fourth phase saw a higher turnout of 69.16 per cent, 3.65 percentage points higher than the corresponding phase in the 2019 parliamentary election but in the fifth phase again, the turnout was recorded at 62.2 per cent.

And on Saturday in the sixth and penultimate phase, thevoter turnout of 61.20 per cent was the lowest among all phases The Election Commission has said that the figures were approximate and would get updated. In the 2019 general elections, the turnout in the sixth phase was 64.4 per cent.

Postal ballots will also have to be counted but that cannot hide the sorry fact that of every ten Indians eligible to vote in this election, only six have turned up. And what could be the reasons keeping voters away from the polling booths despite the Election Commission taking great pains to ensure the best conveniences and easy accessibility for voters?

Many may say that one big factor is the weather with the temperature hovering above 40 degrees Celsius in most north Indian state and even in parts of south India. It is obviously not easy sweating it out in a long queue but the hostile weather alone cannot be held accountable for the low turnouts in the many phases of this election.

What is increasingly coming to the fore is a general disinterest in the electoral process with voters may be wondering if their votes will really bring about the much needed change they have all been looking forward to for decades since Independence - a good life, comfortable homes, well-paying jobs, affordable food grains and other necessities of life beside a harmonious social environment.

Many governments have come and gone but the life of the common Indian and the rural citizen in particular remain as pitiable as ever with life reduced to a daily struggle for survival.

The flickering hope of better governance is dying with each election for once voting is over, the politicians vanish as fast as they have come seeking votes and their many promises remain unfulfilled like ever.

And so does the hope of change for a better life. There is also urban apathy which has kept voting percentages in most big cities including Bengaluru at around 50 per cent. Urbanites sense a golden opportunity to vanish for a holiday on election day rather than make the trip to the polling booth to exercise their democratic right.

The situation will have to change if we are to have a better set of administrators rightfully chosen by the majority of Indians. It is only when we as a collective whole realise that we hold the key to a better India that the policies and programmes framed for our welfare will be truly representative of our aspirations.

The Election Commission has a lot of brainstorming to do; and it may even have to think of ‘incentives’ and ‘disincentives’ for those who do not care to vote so that parliament and Assembly elections turn out to be a really fruitful exercise reflecting our dreams and hopes.