The 2024 Lok Sabha Elections showcased remarkable participation nationwide, marking a significant milestone in India’s democratic process. This event not only emphasized governance selection but also highlighted public awareness and commitment to nation-building. Historic voter turnout and widespread anticipation have profoundly influenced national policies and leadership dynamics. The Election Commission’s effective outreach strategies played a crucial role in increasing voter awareness and participation. As political parties evaluate their performance and alliances, analyzing electoral trends, voter behavior, and outcomes becomes pivotal. GRAAM’s comprehensive research on these aspects underscores its significant contribution to policy engagement, community engagement, and empowering marginalized voices, fostering a more inclusive and participatory democratic process.
The 2024 Lok Sabha Elections witnessed remarkable participation across the nation, marking a significant event in India’s democratic process. Beyond governance selection, it underscored public awareness and commitment to nation-building. With historic voter turnout and widespread anticipation, this election has shaped national policies and leadership dynamics. The Election Commission’s effective outreach strategies contributed to heightened awareness and participation. As parties evaluate their performance and alliances, analyzing electoral trends, voter behavior, and outcomes becomes pivotal, our organization offers comprehensive research on these aspects, examining policies crucial to India’s socio-economic and political future. GRAAM’s impact on the Lok Sabha Election 2024 in India highlights its crucial role in enhancing policy advocacy, fostering community engagement, and empowering marginalized voices, significantly contributing to a more inclusive and participatory democratic process. These two to three month’s core journeys along with the pre-election planning and execution can be precisely stated as the festival of democracy and when it’s all about the biggest democracy in the world it can be easily stated as the Democracy Festival – The Loktantra Mahotsav.
The participation of people in casting their vote during the Lok Sabha Election 2024, as highlighted by the Election Commission, has been phenomenal. It is not only the common masses who are queuing up to cast their vote but the people who have given their lives round the clock for making this festival successful. While analyzing direct voter participation and outcomes is common, the entire operation behind the voting process is equally significant. We have to think, prioritize the task and update the strategies for all of the election warriors whose tremendous effort made this festival a success. However, the time has come when people from across the country have shown their awareness of nation-building. It is true that the more people will come to exchange ideas and decisions, the brighter future will come for the country. Along with the urban crowd, the rural and even the remote people are not standing in the back. We have witnessed the massive participation of masses from the hilly high-altitude Ladakh to the sandy remote coast of Andaman. This shows the power of decision-making of the people by casting their thought process to the box. It is not only good for the present but it will open up the window for the future generation to reach their dream destiny.
Whenever the matter involves participation that is directly or indirectly connected and influenced by nationwide events, people tend to be influenced by evidence-based statistics. This time, it’s the G20 which has massively affected the psychology of the next generation. It showcases the platform to achieve the national objective of a stronger socio-economic presence in the world. The G20 summit significantly influenced the 2024 Lok Sabha election in India. This international spotlight strengthened the incumbent government’s narrative of strong governance and global recognition. The diplomatic engagements and agreements forged during the summit resonated with voters, reinforcing the importance of stability and continuity in leadership, thereby impacting voter sentiment and the electoral outcome.
While national events play a pivotal role in shaping the minds of people for decision making, there the additional force is escalated by the implemented policies. The announcements and executions of the diverse policies in the pre-phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha election in India significantly influenced voter behavior and electoral outcomes. Proposals on economic reform, job creation, social welfare, and national security dominated campaign narratives, shaping public opinion and political strategies. The major impact is drawn by the policies which are synced with rural development schemes, healthcare improvements, and digital infrastructure expansion that resonate with diverse demographics. It is transparently visible that Grassroot voices are important whenever the intent is to shape the future of the nation. GRAAM’s objective is aptly falling in the same areas. These policy-driven discussions not only highlighted pressing national issues but also determined the priorities of the electorate, reflecting a shift towards pragmatic and development-centric governance.
The 2024 Lok Sabha election in India showcased the Election Commission’s remarkable success in strengthening democracy. The Commission’s comprehensive voter education campaigns, particularly in remote and marginalized areas, significantly increased voter turnout and participation. Stringent enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct and swift action against violations maintained the election’s integrity. The Election Commission’s innovative use of social media and digital platforms to counter misinformation and promote factual discourse further exemplified its commitment to a clean electoral process. Inclusive measures, such as accessible polling booths for differently-abled voters and special provisions for senior citizens, ensured that every citizen could exercise their right to vote.
This specific and targeted approach not only strengthened the democratic base of the nation but also set a global benchmark for electoral integrity. The election underscored the Election Commission’s pivotal role in nurturing a vibrant democracy, where the voices of millions were heard and respected, reflecting the true spirit of democratic governance.
Focusing on future consequences is never fulfilling without evidence from the past. It is true that scenarios and outcomes change over time, but they cannot be determined arbitrarily without a report. Therefore, a baseline study from the past is important to understand current trends in election awareness and voter participation. The baseline study for the Karnataka Assembly Election 2018 conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of voters. The study involved a comprehensive survey across the state’s four administrative divisions: Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kalaburgi, and Mysuru. A significant sample size of 7,003 respondents was chosen using a stratified sampling method to ensure representation from various socio-economic backgrounds, age groups, and geographic areas.
The study found that the majority of respondents were aged between 46-60 years, with a significant proportion being male. Rural respondents slightly outnumbered urban respondents. The social group distribution showed a predominance of OBC respondents, and the education level was largely skewed towards individuals with primary and high school education. Occupation-wise, the majority were involved in labor or agriculture. Key findings highlighted a need for enhanced voter education and targeted interventions to improve voter registration and turnout. The study’s results will be used to develop a Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) campaign to increase electoral participation and ensure informed voting practices. The effectiveness of these campaigns will be assessed post-election to measure improvements in voter engagement and participation​
To increase electoral participation in India, it is essential to adopt both short-term and long-term measures. Short-term measures include appointing dedicated officers at the local level to implement SVEEP (Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation) plans using various media. Long-term measures involve continuous SVEEP campaigns managed by a dedicated Election Commission body, annual refresher courses for staff, and involvement of educational institutions and local governments. Enhancing voter registration and turnout requires targeting low-participation areas and ensuring transparency in political funding. Additionally, efforts should focus on inclusivity, particularly for marginalized groups like Persons with Disabilities and the transgender community. This is the only way to make the Loktantra Festival successful year after year; otherwise, it will merely be about the arrangements, not true success. We must remember the tried-and-true formula for success: learning from the past, applying it in the present, and creating a better future.
