Data states voter turnout always less in LS polls than in Assembly elections in U’khand

Tuesday, 23 April 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN

 Concerns from various quarters are being raised over the low voter turnout in the just concluded polling in the Lok Sabha elections- 2024 in Uttarakhand.  However the data of the past elections shows that the voter turnout in the LS polls has always remained less than the Assembly elections.

 The data shows that six to nine per cent less voter turnout occurs in the LS polls than the Assembly elections. In the just concluded polling in the LS elections of 2024, the election commission has reported a turnout of 57.24 per cent which is much less than the turnout reported in the Assembly elections held in the State in the year 2022. Similarly in the LS elections of 2019, a voter turnout of 61.88 per cent was reported which again is less than the voter turnout (65.60 per cent) in the Assembly elections of 2017. In the LS elections of 2014, a voting percentage of 61.67 per cent was reported while in the Assembly elections of 2012, 66.17 per cent turnout was reported. Similarly in the LS elections of 2009, voter turnout of 53.43 per cent was reported while in Assembly elections of 2007, 59.45 per cent voters came out to vote.

 In the first assembly elections in the State held in the year 2002, a voter turnout of 54.34 per cent was reported while in the LS elections held two year later in the year 2004, 48.07 per cent turnout was reported.

The difference in the voting percentage in the Assembly and LS elections in Uttarakhand is not surprising since a similar trend is followed in other parts of the country as well. The Assembly elections are held on a smaller scale as compared to the LS polls. In these elections the political parties and the candidates work hard to ensure that all their supporters cast their vote. Similarly in the local issues dominate the Assembly elections on which the people find higher connect which prompts them to come out to the polling booths in large numbers.