With the exception of 2019, lower voter turnout for Lok Sabha than Assembly

Voter participation for parliamentary elections has always been lower than for state assembly elections, with the exception of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The LS poll in 2019 had a higher voter participation of 80.1%, reversing the trend from the 2017 Assembly elections, which saw a slightly lower voting percentage of 79.8%.

People utilized their right to vote more passionately in the Assembly elections than in the legislative elections, according to an examination of the voting patterns in the previous Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections.

While the 2012 Assembly elections had a much higher turnout of 73.4%, the 2014 Lok Sabha elections saw a turnout of 64.4%. In the Lok Sabha election of 2009, just 58.43% of voters participated. In the 2022 Assembly elections, 78% of voters cast ballots. The polling percentage in the 2004 legislative elections was 59.34. In comparison, the 2007 Assembly poll had a polling rate of 71.61 percent.

In order to increase the proportion of people who vote, a number of grassroots initiatives have been launched, according to Manmohan Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Solan. “After April 20, these efforts will pick up steam as the state prepares for the final round of voting on June 1. There are attempts on to increase urban voters’ involvement this time around since their lack of enthusiasm in casting ballots is concerning in Solan, he said.

“In addition, initiatives recommended by the Indian Election Commission, such as the formation of electoral literacy clubs in academic institutions, are in progress to increase the vote percentage there,” he said.

“Five youth-managed polling stations have been set up in all five Assembly segments of the district in an effort to attract young voters,” said the Deputy Commissioner. Government Primary School at Tarangla in Doon, Government High School at Basha in Solan, Government High School at Narayani in the Kasauli Assembly segment, Panchayat Ghar at Panwala in Nalagarh, and Government High School at Bayla in Arki are the locations where the stations have been put up.

In a similar vein, he said, five voting places overseen by women had also been established in each of the district’s five Assembly divisions in an effort to draw in a greater number of voters.