Introduction
In the recently concluded 18th Lok Sabha election, a largely free and fair democratic nation like ours witnessed a nominal voter turnout from the youth. According to recent data from the Election Commission of India fewer than 40% of first-time voters even registered to vote. An important reason for this can be the lack of an adequate mechanism to ensure the voting rights of the out of city students along with other out-of-city-voters. Despite their will to zealously contribute to democracy, they are restrained by various practical difficulties like financial constraints, educational commitments, different voting dates in different cities,
dearth of leaves etc. preventing them from performing their civic duties. According to data from National Sample Survey Organization India witnesses 45% intra state migration along with 17% of an inter state migration among students for education as there is dearth of quality higher education institutes that suit the interests of the youth.
Status of right to vote
Article 326 of the Constitution clearly states that elections to legislatures must be based on universal adult suffrage. It specifies that every person who is at least 18 years old on the said date is eligible to vote. The Apex court of the country has issued conflicting opinions on whether the right to vote is statutory or constitutional. Earlier judgements by the courts exercising its discretion held the right to vote as a purely statutory right neither a fundamental nor constitutional right. But the judiciary changed its course with the case of Anoop Baranwal v Union of India, it read the right to vote as a fundamental right intertwined with
Article 19(1)(a) (freedom of speech and expression) and 21 (right to life and personal liberty) because by exercising this right citizens shape the further democratic discourse by electing their preferred government. Therefore ensuring participation of the youth in public affairs as a voter is an imperative feature of any democracy.
A lack of voter turnout from the age group of 18-25 is often understood as apathy among the youth but it cannot be the case because the youth takes a substantial interest in the policies of the government and is proactive in critiquing the policies and schemes which it feels are wrong. Additionally the youth is also equally affected by the policies of the government. Failure to tap this socio-politically aware and active segment of society grapples the Election Commission of India with challenges that it needs to overcome. It must find ways to effectively engage with these potential voters. In a digital era where everything ranging from
digital banking, government schemes and policies to food and groceries anything can be brought to our doorsteps then it is perplexing that the most important right of any existing democracy- the right to vote has not yet been extended to the outstation youth through technological means.
Empowering India’s youth: the evolution of universal adult franchise
The bedrock of Article 326 of the constitution is the universal adult franchise which empowers any person of the age 18 or above to vote to elect its representatives in a democracy. Earlier the voting age was 21 but through the sixty-first constitutional amendment it was brought down to 18 this reaffirms the faith of the leaders in the youth of the country. They aimed to harness the energetic, brilliant and dynamic minds capable of ensuring the social and economic progress of the nation by ensuring their engagement in the democratic process. It is a stepping stone in making them more responsible citizens in the future. The youth of the country constitute 22% of the population, which is a sizeable section of the society and it is the duty of the Election Commission of India as an autonomous body responsible for free and fair elections in the country to ensure that they exercise their right without any impediment.
Ensuring voting rights for out-of-city students: a call for electoral reform
It’s the need of the hour that the election commission takes cognizance of the issue and comes up with a solution to ensure the right to vote for students far away from home, which is the shaping pillar of any democracy. Any such welcome step by the conducting authority of elections in the country will reinvigorate the youth to participate in democracy more actively and will reinstate their faith in the process of free and fair elections in the country. The youth of the country bear the burden of nation building, how we will function as a true democracy without them being part of the process and depriving them of this right just because of physical boundaries is even more unfortunate.
Recently the election commission has also heard requests from students who are restrained by geographical constraints to perform their civic duties. Many students have highlighted their grievances and raised questions about the discrepancies present in the voting system. The students do not have the option to vote through Postal Ballots, Voter ID cards are based on permanent3 addresses, therefore ignoring the students who migrate to other cities for employment or other educational ventures. Is it feasible to travel from one part of the country to another for a single day just to vote? Even the travel time may be longer in certain cases.
All these reasons furthermore justify the worrying election commission statistics that fewer than 40 per cent of voters aged 18 to 19 have registered for the 2024 elections nationwide. The current regulations of the election commission are dis-incentivising the youth from participating in the electoral process. It is further discerning that when this right has been extended to NRI students studying abroad then what leaves the election commission from including students migrating to other cities from its ambit?
Substantial youth participation can transform electoral outcomes
According to the current status of electoral procedures, an out-of-city student studying outstation can exercise the right to vote by undergoing the bureaucratic procedure of changing the voter registration address which is not at all feasible for youth because they keep migrating frequently for educational and employment opportunities. The logistical and financial challenges can be resolved only by devising a safe and secure mechanism for online voting by using efficient technology. A case study from Andhra Pradesh demonstrates that first-time voters and indicated youth can significantly impact electoral outcomes. This serves
as an exemplary model of free and fair elections that should be adopted worldwide. This underscores the profound difference that substantial voter turnout from the youth can make.
Challenges faced by migrant workers
Similar can be the grievances of migrant workers who fail to exercise their right to vote because of the temporary nature of their work. Migrant workers, who travel far from their home villages to urban centres in search for employment and students relocating for better educational opportunities are many a times denied their right to vote because of mechanical procedural limitations which compel the voter to vote in person in the constituency in which he has been enrolled and is registered as an ‘ordinary resident’. Internal migration is a significant factor in low voter turnout. A multi-constituency remote electronic voting mechanism is the need of the hour. The migrants have expressed their willingness to cast votes at their work location instead of travelling back to their home towns. However, their
demands and outrage have fallen on deaf ears of the government.
Progress and gaps in boosting voter turnout: A literature review
The article “Elections and Democratic Process in India” by Sarah Joseph and Gurpreet Mahajan examines the dual perspectives of elections in India: the idealistic view of elections as a key democratic process enabling citizen participation and the instrumental view of elections as a strategic power contest among elites. Elaborating on aspects like vote banks and identity politics, calling for participatory democracy enhancing accountability and sustained engagement of citizens in and beyond elections. “Indian Democracy: An Evaluation from Electoral Aspects” by Rajbir Singh Dalal explores the strengths, challenges, and features of India’s democratic system, with a specific focus on its electoral processes by ECI to ensure free and fair election. India one of the greatest democracies of the world suffers with the influence of money, muscle power, caste, religion, and regional biases that continues to hinder fair elections. Malpractices such as misuse of government machinery, lack of voter awareness, and violation of the Model Code of Conduct by political leaders and parties remain significant obstacles. The author also acknowledges ECI’s efforts towards digitalization and the introduction of right to vote for people of Indian origin like NRIs.
The article ‘‘Indian Electoral Politics a Critical Analysis’’ by T. Arumugam highlighted that democracy faces a downward trend due to socio-economic inequalities, despite the promise of political equality through adult franchise. Challenges like caste, communalism, regionalism, nepotism, and corruption dominate modern Indian politics. Additionally bringing to the front other challenges like the delimitation issue, criminalization of politics, lack of accountability and transparency in the electoral process
None of these aforementioned sources tackle a pressing issue that affects millions: the electoral challenges faced by out of city students and migrant workers constrained by logistic reasons and geographic boundaries from exercising their right to vote. Domestic migration is a key contributor to low voter turnout from the youth and lower strata of the society. They are being left out of the decision making process in their home constituency simply because they cannot not travel home on the polling day. This article therefore emphasizes the need for India to embrace technological advancements to facilitate absentee or e-voting for students
away from their home constituencies. The election commission can take a cue from global practices to accommodate the needs of the youth and the migrants to ensure that their voices are heard in the electoral process of the biggest democracy of the world. Therefore the need of the hour is technologically advanced and innovative solutions to devise a framework that represents the presently overlooked segment of population ensuring them of their right to vote.
Lessons from Global Practice
Although there cannot be a one-size-fits-all solution for this problem we can certainly take a leaf from other countries like the United States, UK, Canada, Australia, and Germany. In the United States students can request absentee ballots by registering on the state’s website online thereafter they can vote from their temporary address. It creates liberal guidelines for both, students studying abroad and within the state.
In the UK Students have the right to register at both their home address and their university address. While voting more than once in a national election is illegal, they are permitted to vote in local elections at each of these addresses. They also provide for more expansive voting rights in the form of proxy voting rights.
While India will have to devise its mechanism to deal with this problem it certainly can take cues from other countries in the international sphere to develop a robust electoral system ensuring the much-needed contribution from the youth of the nation. What both these countries have in common is a robust digital platform and flexible voting options to ensure maximum voter turnout thereby strengthening people’s faith in democracy. The election commission needs to spread awareness and encourage the youth to vote. Secondly, a powerful digital platform needs to be floated to ensure voting for students from their temporary address making the physical boundaries intangible/ countless. Concepts like absentee voting, postal ballots, and on-campus voting options can certainly increase the voter
turnout ensuring a healthy democracy where the voice of the citizenry is heard irrespective of their location.
Bridging the gap: Comprehensive solutions for enhancing voting accessibility for outstation students
A committee should be constituted to understand the challenges faced by out-of-city students in voting and develop a mechanism to address these grievances. Special voting booths can be set up at the universities designated specifically for students from other constituencies. Using the necessary infrastructure from universities can also make the process more effortless. In addition to, developing a robust online voting mechanism with advanced cyber security protection that prevents hacking and ensures free and fair elections. The Election Commission of India also needs to set up facilitation centres and student voting helplines to
assist out-station students with voting-related queries and procedures.
Conclusion
Extending the right to vote to outstation students and migrants through efficient technological means is not merely an option but a necessity to uphold the principles of democracy. Logistical and administrative barriers currently hinder the ability of the youth who are engaged, informed and eager to exercise their fundamental right to vote as acknowledged by the apex court of the country. The Election Commission of India must embrace technological advancements to facilitate absentee or e-voting for students away from their home constituencies. By adopting this mechanism we can ensure that every voice is heard regardless of the geographic location of the voter. This would not only reinvigorate the democratic fabric of the nation but also empower and incorporate a generation that is eager to contribute to the shaping of the country’s future. In a digital age let’s make the most important democratic right accessible to every student and youth who is tied within the bounds of educational or employment commitments.
