Urban voters a challenge for Election Commission

DHARWAD

: The Election Commission of India which hitherto was engaged only in conducting elections in the country has of late focused on increasing the participation of people in the democratic process. It has introduced several programmes like Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) to create awareness among people about the need to enroll their names in the voters’ list and then cast their vote on polling day.


However, the EC’s efforts have not met with much success among

urban voters

. The statistics available prove that

rural voters

have always been more forthcoming when it comes to casting their vote.

Many urban voters do not even bother to check whether their names are in the voters’ list though the information can be accessed sitting at home using an electronic device. Very often they are seen arguing with officials at polling booths after finding out that their names are missing from the rolls despite them having an election photo ID card.

Kalyan Nagar in Dharwad is a locality where most of the residents are academically highly qualified and financially well off. But in every election, polling booths here record the lowest percentage of voting compared to other booths in the city.

Contrary to this, rural voters who are said to be less educated and know little about the democratic system, make it a point to religiously visit polling booths unmindful of scorching heat or inclement weather and exercise their franchise.

Urban voters find politics less attractive

According to political commentator Prof Harish Ramaswamy, elections have greater significance in rural areas as politics meets society in rural areas through decentralized institutions. Benefits offered by states cajole them to make political choices. “It is because of these direct linkages that rural voters exercise their rights consciously. Contrary to this, the urban voter engaged in economic activity finds politics less attractive except for the return on investment. He does not engage in politics for benefits except in a few numbers. In order to make them vote, there is a need to push the idea that politics influences their social and economic activity,” he adds.

Reasons for apathy of urban voters

Polling percentage

has been better only when

Lok Sabha

elections are held simultaneously with Assembly elections.

Urban voters are more concerned about local issues and hence do not relate well with national issues and central government schemes.

The urban, educated voters are generally known for their indifference towards voting. They use the holiday and the long weekend for relaxation.

They feel that their participation in the poll process makes little or no difference to their lives..