Rajasthan

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Voting Behaviour ​

Meaning ​

  • Voting behaviour, also known as electoral behaviour, is a form of political behaviour.
  • It reflects the behaviour of voters during elections in a democratic political system.
  • Definitions:
    • Plano and Riggs: Study of how people vote in public elections and the reasons behind their choices.
    • Gordon Marshall: Study of the determinants influencing why and how people make voting decisions.
    • Oinam Kulabidhu: Behaviour explicitly reflecting voter's choices, preferences, alternatives, ideologies, concerns, agreements, and programmes in respect of various issues.

Significance ​

  • Psephology, a branch of political science, scientifically studies voting behaviour.
  • The term 'Psephology' is derived from the Greek word 'Psephos'.
  • Significance of studying voting behaviour:
    1. Aids in understanding political socialization.
    2. Helps examine the adoption of democracy as a value.
    3. Highlights the revolutionary impact of the ballot box.
    4. Reveals continuity or change in electoral politics.
    5. Measures modernity or primordialism in political development.
  • N.G.S. Kini regards voting behaviour as:
    1. A way to legitimize democratic rule.
    2. An act of "participation" involving integration into the political community.
    3. An act of decision-making.

Determinants ​

  • Voting behavior in India is influenced by multiple factors, broadly categorized into socio-economic and political factors.

  • Socio-Economic Factors:

    1. Caste:
      • Significant influence on voter behaviour.
      • "Indian politics is casteist, and caste is politicised." - Rajni Kothari
      • Political parties consider caste during election strategy formulation.
      • Caste solidarity remains the most important factor in voting behaviour at the local level.
    2. Religion:
      • Influences electoral behaviour.
      • Political parties may use communal propaganda.
    3. Language:
      • Linguistic considerations affect voting behaviour.
      • Rise of parties like DMK (Tamil Nadu) and TDP (Andhra Pradesh) are attributed to linguistic factors.

  • Political Factors:

    1. Region:
      • Regionalism and sub-regionalism influence voting behaviour.
      • Parochial feelings can lead to the emergence of regional parties.
    2. Personality:
      • Charismatic leaders influence electoral behaviour.
    3. Money:
      • Money can influence decisions under normal circumstances but not during wave elections.
      • Wave election: A clear tendency develops towards a national party or leader.
    4. Performance of Ruling Party:
      • Voters judge the ruling party based on its election manifesto promises.
      • Anti-incumbency factor: Dissatisfaction with the ruling party.
    5. Party Identification:
      • Emotional attachment influences voting behavior.
      • Loyalists consistently vote for their party.
    6. Ideology:
      • Political ideologies influence voter decisions.
      • People support parties that match their ideologies.
    7. Other Factors:
      • Political events before the election.
      • Economic conditions during the election.
      • Factionalism.
      • Candidate orientation.
      • Election campaign.
      • Political family background.
      • Role of media.