A recent report by Maharashtra’s chief electoral officer
indicates that only 7,90,000 youth in the 18-19 age group, of the state’s total youth population of 42,09,000 in that age bracket, have registered as voters. The 18-19 age category forms 4.5 percent of the state’s total population, but the registered voters from the age group constitute a mere 0.6 percent of the state’s population. Despite regular state-wide campaigns in universities and colleges, voter registration in the 18-19 age group has only
marginally increased—0.3 percent of the population in November 2022 to 0.6 percent in April 2023.
These findings explain the
voter apathy experienced in cities across India, where local elections typically witness lower voter turnout than at the state and national levels. Analysis shows that many of the country’s urban youth are
staying away from exercising their franchise, a concern also highlighted by the
National Youth Policy, 2014. While stressing greater youth participation in politics, the policy recognises that ‘there is very little coordinated action to promote youth engagement in politics and governance’.
The issue is also important for India at a multilateral level, regarding its advantageous position of demographic dividend at a global scale.
Maharashtra is one of India’s most
urbanised states. Therefore, low voter registration in a big, urbanised state like Maharashtra should receive adequate policy attention to enhance constructive youth engagement within India’s democratic framework. Since voter enrolment is the first step towards a participatory, inclusive, and vibrant democracy, it is essential to address the reluctance of the youth, particularly in urban areas, to register themselves in the electoral roll, especially given the
significant growth predicted in India’s urban population in the coming decades. The issue is also important for India at a multilateral level, regarding its advantageous position of demographic dividend at a global scale.
Global demographic trends: India’s big chance
India’s working population will range between 51 and 56 percent during its projected
demographic dividend period of 2010-2056. In contrast, multiple countries are witnessing
declining populations and significantly reducing working populations due to low birth and stable death rates. Some Eastern European countries are facing a population decline due to the mass migration of skilled workers. On the other hand, China’s population decline because of its strictly-enforced one-child policy for over 35 years is feared to impact
global economic growth. Reports have also suggested that Russia’s recent military (mis)adventures are informed by its
demographic death spiral, particularly among men. Advanced East Asian economies like South Korea and Japan are witnessing
record low-births and facing bigger social security burdens. Europe’s largest economy, Germany, governed by liberal democratic principles, has come up with
reforms in immigration, skills, and training to address the labour shortage and fill around 60,000 jobs per year with people from outside the European Union. However, most countries, including Russia and China, would be unable to emulate Germany due to multiple socio-political constraints.
Advanced East Asian economies like South Korea and Japan are witnessing record low-births and facing bigger social security burdens.
As the world’s
most populated and
youngest nation, India must encash the situation and unleash its youth power to strengthen its core democratic principles by prioritising their enhanced participation in politics and democracy. Policymakers must ensure youth participation in India’s political and democratic processes, considering their aspirations amidst a fast-changing world order.
A void: Youth in Indian politics
India’s politics is characterised by ‘
young country, old leaders’. Most young leaders who make a mark in Indian politics belong to well-established political families holding significant clout. Though almost every mainstream political party has a functional student wing and vigorously participates in students’ union elections in colleges and universities, there lacks a systematic procedure and mentorship to elevate the student leaders into legislative politics. For example,
12 percent of the elected Members of Parliament (MP) are below 40 years in the 17
th Lok Sabha (2019-2024), as against
26 percent MPs below 40 years in the first parliament (post-independence).
Notably, before all major elections, political party manifestoes outline ambitious youth programmes heavily promoted through
print and social media. Youth also prominently configure in political outreach campaigns, and political parties often advertise their participation as a show of strength before elections. However, the main issues of the youth—education and employment—
receive less attention post-election, signalling the lack of young voters’ ability to consolidate their demands in the electoral framework. Even when student leaders elevate to legislative politics, their leverage remains limited. In this scenario, the low youth voter participation seems like an expected outcome rather than an anomaly.
Youth also prominently configure in political outreach campaigns, and political parties often advertise their participation as a show of strength before elections.
Towards increased youth engagement
India’s political parties and policymakers must chart ways to engage with the young and motivate them to participate in the nation’s development trajectory. Beyond representation, greater youth participation will ensure a sharper focus on issues they face. Besides the traditional challenges of education and employment, governance mechanisms must address myriad other issues impacting the young. For instance, factors such as
financial pressures and traditional gender roles, that deter them from having children in developed economies such as Japan and China, are also being noticed in India, with increasing numbers of
women choosing not to bear children and
lesser youth opting for marriage. The issues here are not with the outcomes but the factors leading to the same and how the outcomes are managed. While relevant government reports study the shift in
societal mentality, it is unclear how India is responding to these new realities confronting the youths, that would also require an urban-centric focus.
A two-pronged approach is required to address such challenges: Convincing the young voters that their issues are important and taken seriously by the government and policymaking bodies through a
participatory approach; and electoral reforms to facilitate active youth participation in India’s election and democracy. A few examples from other successful democracies provide a helpful reference. Tuft University’s Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement conducts
focused research that informs policy in the United States (US) to increase voter turnout by correlating the impact of media ecosystems, gender, and youth-adult partnerships on young voter turnout. A study by
Duke University focused on designing policy reforms to encourage young voter turnouts in the US by conducting extensive school-level student surveys covering aspects of school engagement, non-cognitive skills, and civic attitudes. Studies along similar lines can be commissioned in India, roping in expertise from institutions such as the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Azim Premji University, etc. Student engagement programmes such as
#ORFSPARK, conducted by the Observer Research Foundation, connecting students with contemporary policy issues can be expanded and tailored to inculcate the need to participate in democratic procedures. Voter enrolment processes must be simplified focusing on enhancing online procedures and curtailing multiple visits to government offices. These interventions must account for the low participation of young people in elections in urban areas and devise strategies accordingly.
The Election Commission of India must devise ways for such migrant youth, across urban and rural areas, to cast their votes in their native places without travelling back home.
India is also witnessing increased youth
migration within the country for education, employment, marriage, and work. The Election Commission of India must devise ways for such migrant youth, across urban and rural areas, to cast their votes in their native places without travelling back home. The government must leverage the
successes of its Digital India initiative for this purpose. This would ensure more focus on migrants’ issues, not limited to the youth, in local politics. Besides digital interventions, such issues require a coordinated inter-departmental initiative with bipartisan involvement of all relevant societal stakeholders.
India must make the most of its unique demographic dividend by ensuring equal opportunities for the youth, paving the way for their productive engagement with India’s democracy. India’s standing as a functional, vibrant, representative, and syncretic democracy holds importance not only in domestic affairs but also in international platforms, especially when there is a
pivot towards authoritarianism across the world. Ensuring greater youth voter enrolment in urban India is the first step.
Snehashish Mitra is a Fellow with the Urban Studies at the Observer Research Foundation
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