It is the fundamental right of people to cast vote to keep the democracy moving.
Since the schedule announcement by Election Commission of India (ECI) for the Lok Sabha Election 2024, the buzz is rising every passing day. In India, the legal voting age in the first general election (1951-1952) was 21. However, 61st Constitutional Amendment in 1989 changed this to 18 years from 21 years.
In this article, we will discuss about the importance of youth voters in a democratic country like India.
The ECI shared “The total number of registered electors or voters in India are around 96.8 crore (968 million).”
There are 49.7 crore men and 47.1 crore are women. The number first-time voters are 1.8 crore, while young voters are 19.74 crore. There are 48,000 transgender voters too. There are 82 lakh voters aged above 85 and 2.18 lakh people are centenarians.
Addressing a press conference on elections to Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said: “There are 12 such states where the gender ratio is over 1000 which means that number of women voters is more than males and 1.89 crore new voters have joined, out of them in the age group of 18-19 years there are 85.3 lakh women electors so they are going side by side so that is a very healthy sign that women are also participating equally in our elections.”
Truly, it's “...a mammoth exercise in democracy which is world’s largest electoral movement of man and material,” as mentioned by the Election Commission of India (ECI) recently.
Young voters have profound impact on Indian election.
Policy Change: The youths in any nation has the power to bring revolutionary change in traditional policies. Due to presence of large number of first time voters, there's an opportunity to receive diverse ideologies which can shape nation's progress.
Catalysts of Change: The youths are not only observers, they are one of the most dynamic agents of change distinguished by fresh perspectives as well as showing eagerness to transform. Broadly, they act as catalysts of change in the political landscape.
Building Nation: There are three major sectors for building any nation: education, healthcare, and employment. The strong participation by youth voters can put pressure on political parties to bring improvement. Currently, political parties are bringing change and serving numerous benefits to attract youth population’s vote.
Olympic medalist Badminton player and youth icon PV Sindhu recently emphasized on participation of youth in election: “As the year 2024 unfolds, the democratic machinery gears up for one of its most significant events: the 18th Lok Sabha General Election. In this democratic spectacle, the participation of every eligible voter is crucial, but perhaps none more so than the youth. The youth constitute a significant portion of the population, bringing with them the unparalleled spirit of ‘Yuva Shakti’. Their engagement in the voting process holds the potential to shape the future of nations. Understanding the pivotal role of the youth in the electoral process is imperative as we march towards Election 2024.”
Several states like West Bengal, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra are reporting a rise in the number of young voters for this election.
When crores of youths will feel empowered, they will bring revolutionary change for betterment of the nation. Improving voter registration process and providing a growth-oriented environment for youth are two essential things for shaping India's future.
