E-Paper
33% dip in number of young voters in Chandigarh as senior citizen votes rise by 36%
There will be about 83,952 voters aged above 60 (senior citizens) this year as opposed to 61,868 in 2014; and just 12,094 new or young voters aged between 18 to 19 instead of 18,170 in 2014.
In what reinforces Chandigarh’s status as a city of retirees, there’s been a jump of 36% in the number of senior citizens voting in the Lok Sabha elections this year as compared to 2014; but first-time voters aged between 18 and 19 seem to be missing. Their numbers show a decline of 33% since the last election, voters’ number-crunching in the city reveals.
There will be about 83,952 voters aged above 60 (senior citizens) this year as opposed to 61,868 in 2014; and just 12,094 new or young voters aged between 18 to 19 instead of 18,170 in 2014.
According to figures gathered from the office of the chief electoral office here, out of the 6.19 lakh people who will cast their vote in this year’s Lok Sabha elections, 83,000 or about 14% are senior citizens. Similarly, out of a total of 5.8 lakh voters during the last elections in 2014, 61,000 or 11% were senior citizens.
In five years, there has only been an increase of only 39,000 voters in Chandigarh and at the same time, the variation in the 60 plus age bracket is over 20,000, data gathered by HT reveals.
The total voter count this year is 6,19,249 as opposed to 5,80,700 in 2014 thereby showing a rise of nearly 38,549 new voters, which include the migrant population.
Why are young voters missing?
On just 12,094 youth voting this year as opposed to 18,170 in 2014, experts attribute reasons to influx of migrant population and young people coming from the neighbouring states in Punjab and Haryana to study. They do not have votes here.
Often people renting accommodation in the city move homes without getting their addresses changed on documents and can’t vote, says a UT official.
The elderly are more aware of their rights. “Things can’t change overnight as it takes a certain amount of time to familiarise a new adult with the political atmosphere of the country. The elderly tend to be more aware in this aspect,” says sub-divisional magistrate (east) Arjun Sharma, joint chief electoral officer.
Ajoy Kumar Sinha, finance secretary and chief electoral officer, says students who come from other states can’t vote here. “Many of them go back. We have conducted several special camps this year just to ensure that these youngsters can be facilitated and they can cast their vote here if they wish to,” he adds.
The city also has more seniors as people tend to move out for employment during their peak years and then come back to settle here. In February 75% of the latest forms were of voters in the 20-year age group.
On ways forward, Mandip Singh Brar, deputy commissioner, said innovative methods were needed to encourage people across the board to vote.
Measures taken to boost young voter participation:
1) Helpline number 1950 (toll free from 9 am to 9pm) set up for election related queries
2) Radio jingles to motivate people to vote
3) Awareness camps in schools, colleges
4) Training sessions for booth level officials
5) Opening of sampark centres to help people getting their addresses changed
6) Actor Ayushman Khuranna made ambassador for elections here
POLL CALL: Change in number of voters
2014 voting count
Total: 58,0700
60 plus age bracket:
60 -69 years= 39,214
70-79 years = 17,023
80 plus = 5,631
Total senior citizen voters= 61,868
2019 voting count
Total: 61,9249
60 plus:
60-69= 51,391
70-79= 23,759
80 plus= 8,802
Total senior citizen voters = 83,952
18-19 YEARS CATEGORY
2014: 18,170
2019: 12,094
