decline in Voter Turnout Ratio (VTR) from 56.01% to 53.96% over 10 years ( 2014 – 2024)
Bengaluru, May 03,2024
The average Poll percentage during last 6 Election (AC Election - 2013, 2018 and 2023 | BBMP Election – 2015 | LS Election 2014 and 2019) in Bangaluru urban Parliamentary constituencies was at ~53.25%.
B.PAC and several communities and Dist. Electoral Officer (DEO) led voter awareness campaigns has not given an encouraging result towards increase in voter participation. Yet again the polling percentage in Bengaluru urban was recorded ~53.89% during the recently concluded Lok Sabha General Election 2024, poll percentage saw a dip of 0.18% compared to 2019 Lok Sabha Election.
The zoom discussion titled - Low polling percentage in Bengaluru urban district (BBMP) during Lok Sabha General Election 2024, what are the root causes? was organized today to know from experts and practitioners closing observing the elections and voter turnout. Over 50 participants attended the panel discussion. Link to Presentation from the discussion - https://bit.ly/4bjltvU
Following were the speakers during the moderated discussion by Revathy Ashok, Hon Managing Trustee and CEO, B.PAC
· Dr. Sandeep Shastri, National Coordinator, Lokniti Network
· Vikram Rai, President, BAF
· Sudheendra MG, KPCC Spokesperson & Block Congress President
· Kaveri Kedarnath, Former Mandal President, Malleshwaram, BJP
Below are the key discussion points:
Dr. Sandeep Shastri, National Coordinator, Lokniti Network
· Historically since 1952, over 18 elections, Bengaluru has had lower voter turnout baring 1977 PC election, during which over 60% voting happened otherwise the voter turnout ratio is in 50% range. In 6 elections voter turnout rate was less than 50%.
· Possible reason for the low voter turnout could be combination of voter apathy, lack of information on candidates contesting and timing of the poll day. Extended weekends has contributed to low polling. A recent survey has revealed that sizeable, registered electorates are not living in the city or prefer to go and vote in their home village/town other than Bengaluru
Vikram Rai, President, Bangalore Apartment Federation (BAF)
· Shared BAF analysis on baseline error in electoral roll giving observations of few apartment complexes where registered electorates shift their living with in and out of city. BLOs are not synchronizing with citizens ( electorates or non-electorates) in evaluating enumeration of electoral roll refining. There is a high degree of scope for deletion of names in the roll but the BLOs don’t act
· Political participation including registering as voters and voting during election by migrants to city shifted in the past 10 years are slow and change is incremental, but this is happening.
Sudheendra MG, KPCC Spokesperson & Block Congress President
· As block president of Mahalakshmi Layout, along with voter apathy the electorates have a view that their single vote is insignificant, also political parties are not making efforts to mobilize electorates to vote on polling day while in the past prior to 1990’s political parties played role to get voters to polling station.
· Booth no.80, which has 392 families, 1190 votes on electoral rolls, it was found that only 92 families resides in the booth and other families have shifted out of boot no. 80. These voters are continuing to have place in electoral rolls.
· BLA of political party to be actively utilized by BBMP officials to refine electoral rolls to get true state of accuracy of electorates there by increase voter turnout rate.
Kaveri Kedarnath, Former Mandal President, Malleshwaram, BJP
· Shared experience of her boot no. 187 level experience in Malleshwaram AC (ward 76 – Gayatrinagara) Total 996 voters, 40 voters demised, 232 shifted voters from place to other place, but the BLOs don’t act on these voters. Adding as a voter is easy when compared to shifting the vote within or outside AC, several people are re registering as new voters.
Ms. Revathy Ashok, Hon Managing Trustee & CEO, B.PAC said “ BPAC and other civic organizations shall continue to collectively work with BBMP officials from polling station to BBMP head office in finding resolutions to the prevailing issues in electoral rolls, facilitating easy access of information to electorates thereby making elections a truly participatory”.
Contact:
Sachiin AT @ sachiin@bpac.in | +91-7349542201
Sharath S R @ sharath@bpac.in | +91-9886196640
