The youth vote, which increased from 58% in 2009 to 68% in 2014, was significantly greater than the average voter turnout, according to Lokniti-CSDS surveys. This had an effect on the incumbent Congressman’s defeat as well. Source: The Indian Express
However, despite a 9.3% increase in the size of the electorate, voter turnout in the 2019 elections stagnated at roughly 67.4%. The ECI finds that young people are less interested in the elections, particularly those who live in cities. This is a component that could be present even though voter turnout has been somewhat rising annually, which makes it a growing concern that calls for cooperation.
A growing body of research from the Institute for Public Policy Research, the International Monetary Fund, and the United Nations indicates that 21st-century citizens have less faith in democratic institutions. An Indian Statistical Institute analysis has hinted at the same thing, maintaining at the core of the argument a positive association between an increase in representation and political confidence.
The youth are still alienated by corruption scandals, poor representation, and the idea that their vote won’t really matter. Furthermore, given that elected members of the 17th Lok Sabha are, on average, 56.7 years old, gerontocracy is perceived as a major contributing cause to the disengagement of younger voters from democratic institutions. Concerns about migration have also grown, according to the ECI, in light of decreasing voter turnout. Most of the migrants in India make up about 35% of the population. Due to their residence in cities where they haven’t re-registered to vote, a sizable portion of this populationu2014the youthu2014are ineligible to cast ballots.
Source: India Today
Political movements like the India Against Corruption Movement and the CAA protest have included a noticeable presence of young people. Numerous youthful leaders are driving the campaigns and have helped to transform politics. However, this does not imply that young people are taking an increased interest in politics or elections as a whole. A concerted, multifaceted strategy is needed to convert this youth force into voting power.
In order to increase voter registration, steps must be taken to streamline the voting procedure and guarantee ongoing enrollment procedures in partnership with the ELCS in educational institutions. Nonetheless, curriculum integration is the cornerstone of youth electoral education. Legislation and thorough stakeholder engagements, including parents and school administrators, can stop political interests from abusing the curriculum for their own purposes. Increasing young engagement in elections should go hand in hand with the recent efforts to increase youth representation. Youth voter indifference is a complex issue that calls for multifaceted, cooperative solutions.
The National Youth Policy of 2014 highlighted the lack of coordinated efforts in this direction, and the ECI policies ought to guarantee this cross-departmental coordination. In light of the approaching 2024 Lok Sabha elections, it is imperative to undertake measures aimed at fostering youth confidence in political institutions. In this direction, political campaigns can benefit by giving priority to youth issues about socioeconomic well-being, employment prospects, and education.
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