Bupinder Zutshi
Bupinder Zutshi
Bupinder Zutshi
European Scientific Journal September 2014 /SPECIAL/ edition Vol.2 ISSN: 1857 – 7881 (Print) e - ISSN 1857- 7431
Abstract
The study of voter turnout rates, its composition, characteristics, Knowledge, Attitude,
Behavior, Beliefs and Practices (KABBP) is an integral part of election management by the
Election Commissions throughout the World. The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer-Uttar
Pradesh has taken up a Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP)
interventions and programmebefore the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2012, to
promote participation of the voter in the electoral process. The present study examines the
voter turnout rates across gender groups, age groups, income groups, occupational groups and
education levels in Uttar Pradesh state of India. It also attempts to assess knowledge, attitude,
practices and satisfaction level of voters about various services and facilities of electoral
process/election management and its consequences on voter turnout rates.
The study indicates voter turnout rate of 59.48% in 2012, as compared to 46.07% in 2007 and
47.79% in General Election of 2009. The mean and median voter turnout rates recorded
during 1951-2009 has been 50. I %, and 50.5% respectively,with Standard Deviation of 9.4
for the same period. However significant variations in the voter turnout rates were recorded
among micro regions within same administrative constituency due to demographic, cultural,
socio-economic and institutional management measures. The results point out significant
impact in voter turnout rates after interventions under SVEEP were initiated by the Election
Commission in 2010. The study also depicts that there is lot of gap between what the voters
‗should know‘ and what they ‗actually know‘ in important areas like registration of voter list,
making of Elector Photo Identity Cards (EPIC), Polling Station location, use of Electronic
Voting Machines (EVMs), do‘s & don‘ts with regard to model code of conduct. The results
point out that persistent voter education with the kind of seriousness and depth, it deserves by
the Election Management bodies should be given due and strong emphasis.
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toward the primacy of institutional variables in affecting the variation in turnout across
nations, although some authors also include sociological variables as well as economic
variables in their analyses.However the factors affecting voter turnout can be classified as
follows:
Multiple factor affects voter turnout rates. These factors are institutional management,
cultural, social, economic, laws and governance. Making easier rules and laws for registration
of eligible voter has helped in increasing registration of high numbers of eligible voters in
voter lists, which naturally result in higher turnouts. Rolling registration (Registering eligible
voters as closer to the date of polling) has helped in increasing eligible voter lists, as updating
is regular, without creating barriers of cutoff dates. Online registration of eligible voter in the
voter list has also improved voter turnouts. Creating awareness by Election Commission
through mass media, advertisements and other intervention have increased eligible voters
registration in voter lists. Simply making it easier for candidates to stand through
easier nomination rules is believed to increase voting. Conversely, adding barriers, such as a
separate registration process, can suppress turnout. Other factors include ease of voting is a
factor in voter turnout. Increasing the number of possible voting locations, lowering the
average time voters have to spend waiting in line, or declaring holidays on voting day for
workers has helped in increased voter turnouts. Many countries have looked into internet
voting as a possible solution for low voter turnout. Similarly Voter fatigue can lower turnout.
If there are many elections in close succession, voter turnout will decrease as the public tires
of participating. Holding multiple elections at the same time can increase turnout.Voter
suppression affects voter turnout because citizens are prevented from voting. Prevention
could be for legal, racial, or political reasons. Often the aim of suppression is that the people
in power remain in power. In other cases, supporters of candidates who cannot get elected
through fair means or have their nominated candidature listed on the ballot paper often self-
suppress in protest. Voter also perceives security threat which suppresses their voting rights.
Not all voters who arrive at the polls necessarily cast ballots. Some may be turned away
because they are ineligible as they do not find their names in the voter list or do not possess
accepted identification cards , some may be turned away improperly by opposing candidates
due to lack of security personnel.
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country where voter turnout rates for underprivileged community is higher than most
privileged groups. He also finds that voters in rural areas are more likely to vote than those in
urban areas. Scholars have also analyzed that young voters and women have higher voter
turnout rates especially during last decade.
A lot of attention has been paid to the decline in voter turnout rates in the World
democracies, and scholars have debated the reasons and the effects of this decline. Declining
voter turnout tends have been associated with citizens‘ lack of interest in the democratic
process which dilutes the legitimacy of the governance. Scholars have also related the decline
in voter turnout to disenfranchisement of socially and economically backward groups, and
questioned whether democracy in such a scenario is truly representative. In such situations it
is imperative on the Election Commission and political parties to encourage electorates to
participate in the election processes by inculcating KABBP among the voters.
Research Methodology
The present study is based on both secondary and primary sources of data. Secondary
data was collected from Election Commission of India (ECI) record like voter turnout during
Assembly Election 2012 for Uttar Pradesh state of India.. Primary survey was conducted
during July to December 2013 in Uttar Pradesh. A total of 20,154 households from rural areas
(10,585 households from High turnout polling booth areas and 9,569 households from Low
turnout polling booth areas) and 5,207 households from urban areas (2193 households from
High turnout polling booth areas and 3014 households from Low turnout polling booth areas)
were stratified and randomly selected for the detailed survey from the 380 Assembly
segments. These stratified randomly selected household recorded 86,720 eligible voters (aged
18 year and above). Thus the survey covered 86,720 eligible voters representing 0.068
percent of total electorate of the state for the survey. Eligible voters aged 18 years and above
recorded per household were 3.57 for rural areas and 2.83 for urban areas. 43,171 eligible
voters were recoded from High turnout polling booth areas and 43,549 eligible voters were
recorded from Low turnout polling booth areas. However only 62,735 eligible voters
responded for the survey (30,973 voters from High turnout polling booth areas and 31,762
voters from Low turnout polling booth areas) and others were reluctant to provide detailed
information required for the survey. (Refer Table No.1)
Table No. 1 Sample Coverage -KABBP Survey -2013, Uttar Pradesh
Total Households
Total Eligible Voters found/ Total Eligible Voters Responded
Covered for
Covered for Survey during Survey
Sample Survey
Rural Urban Rural Urban
Rural Urban
M F M F M F M F
High turnout
Polling Booth 10585 2193 17962 19088 2901 3220 13058 13703 1985 2227
Areas
Low Turnout
Polling Booth 9569 3014 16586 18341 4175 4447 12125 13133 3061 3443
Areas
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Both Combined 20154 5207 34548 37429 7076 7667 25183 26836 5046 5670
Source: Sample Survey Conducted 2013
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Uttar Pradesh and high turnout rates in Central, North-West and South Districts. (Refer Map
No. 2). Female voter turnout rates were higher in North-West Districts and some pockets of
South and Eastern Districts (Refer Map No. 3). Thus voter turnout indicates strong regional
influences of political parties and economic developmental issues.
Regional variation at micro level within the Districts were also observed in the voter
turnout rates indicating multiple factors play important role in determining voter turnout rates.
District wise Voter turnout, separately for District as well as for High Polling Booth and Low
Polling Booth within the District, depict variations in voter turnout rates. The table indicates
that voter turnout for polling booths within the same districts has been as high as 75% and as
low as 45%. The multiple factors within the same District determine voter turnout rates.
These multiple factors could be institutional (ease of registering voters in voter list, location
of polling booths, security arrangements at the polling booth, services at polling booth like
time taken to cast vote), demographic and social and economic characteristics of voters,
motivational encouragement by Election Commission, political parties and candidates and
suitability perception of candidate by voter.
Map No 1
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Thus the results clearly indicate that although significant improvement has been
recorded in voter turnout rates in Uttar Pardesh during last one decade but regional variation
still exists at micro, meso and macro level with the state. A combination of interventions by
Election Commission has shown positive results which require to be expanded or even
strengthened through participatory methods.
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149
The income groups considered was those having annual income of Indian Rupees (1 lakh Indian Rupees is
equal to Indian Rupees 100,000 ( US$ 1750 )
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rural areas (67%) and urban areas (48%). Marginal variations were observed in the recall of
campaign between men and women. The proportion of recall rate among high voter turn areas
was much higher than in case of low voter turnout rates. It thereby signifying the importance
of campaign conducted by Election Commission under SVEEP initiative.
In the wake of several interventions under SVEEP program made by ECI it was
expected that respondents would be motivated to vote in large number, which has actually
happened but only 8% respondents indicated role of ECI for their motivation to vote. Hence
more efforts need to be taken by ECI to create awareness for higher turnout rates. It is
interesting that in spite of media projection of threat and coercion to vote only 8% reported
threat as demotivating factor. The satisfaction level at the polling booth center in terms of
services, functions and facilities were appreciated by voters. 73% respondents were satisfied
with the services provided at the polling booths. Marginal variations were observed by
respondents for both high and low voter turnout areas in terms of satisfaction level of services
at polling booths. However high proportion of respondents from urban areas expressed that
services need to be upgraded and improved as compared to respondents from rural areas.
There is lot of gap between what the voters ‗should know‘ and what they ‗actually
know‘ in important areas like registration, making of Elector Photo Identity Cards (EPIC/ and
the acceptance of other identity proofs for voting, Polling Station location, use of EVMs,
timings of the poll, do‘s & don‘ts with regard to Model Code of Conduct. ECI requires
making available this knowledge pool with a sense of urgency. Experience showed that even
greater awareness does not necessarily get converted into greater participation, thus along
with generating awareness necessary steps should be taken on the voting day to ensure
implementation of the knowledge imparted to voters. Persistent voter education with the kind
of seriousness and depth it deserves by the election management bodies should be given due
and strong emphasis.
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Conclusion
The study points there is high degree of voter turnout and high degree of satisfaction
especially after the SVEEP programme. However the study also found, lack of information
about process amongst unregistered voters,low levels of awareness about ECI campaigns, a
significant proportion of non-registered eligible voter in the electoral rolls and exclusion of
specific communities, socio-economic groups from voter turnout. Major threats are
perception of cumbersome documentation and lack of knowledge for registration in voter
lists, lack of interest due to mal-practices, poor candidates and trust deficit with political
parties/ candidates and governance, Frequent polling. The opportunities from ECI campaign
shows, voters perceive voting as their right/duty, the perception that facilities and services at
polling booths are satisfactory and there is scope of betterment of facilities at polling stations.
There is Increase in voter turnout percentage among poor, disadvantaged and marginalized
communities and section especially women, scheduled caste/ scheduled tribes population.
However the study points out that there is a need to strengthen electorate knowled, education
and communication and Election Commission must revise constantly electoral rolls and
efforts should be made for inclusion of on-line registration.
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