The landscape of women's voter turnout in India has experienced significant changes over the years. As of 2024, the gender gap in voter turnout is narrowing, indicating a shift towards greater political engagement among women.
In the 2009 elections, women's turnout was recorded at 55.8%, compared to 60.36% for men. By 2019, women slightly outperformed men with a turnout of 67.18% versus 67.02%. The 2024 Lok Sabha election saw both genders achieving a turnout of 66%, showcasing near parity.
In the 2024 general election, there were 47.15 crore registered women voters. Out of these, 66% participated, translating to approximately 31.12 crore women. This number constituted nearly half of the total votes cast, which stood at 63.94 crore.
Among the 49.73 crore registered male voters, a turnout of 66% resulted in about 32.82 crore men voting. This statistic highlights the near equal participation of women and men in the electoral process.
Several factors have contributed to the rise in women's voter turnout:
While many women’s votes are influenced by family and community ties, the rise of secret ballot access and increased awareness has allowed some to vote independently.
Despite higher turnout rates, women's representation in politics remains low. In 2024, only 74 women were elected out of 800 candidates, yielding a mere 9.3% success rate. Women constitute only 13.6% of the 18th Lok Sabha, a decrease from 14.4% in 2019, despite making up nearly 49% of the population.
The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, enacted in 2023, aims to reserve 33% of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. However, its implementation is contingent upon the results of the next Census and delimitation processes.
Thanks to the 73rd and 74th Amendments, one-third of seats in Panchayati Raj institutions and urban bodies are reserved for women. Currently, women hold 44.4% of these positions, marking one of the highest rates of local governance participation worldwide.
Despite advancements, barriers persist at higher political levels, including:
Welfare initiatives like free food grains and housing have significantly increased female electoral participation, particularly in states such as Tamil Nadu, Bihar, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh.
Women voters are not a homogenous group; they are influenced by factors such as caste, class, religion, and region. While welfare policies may unify them in certain contexts, voting preferences often reflect family and community identities.
The increasing voter turnout among women is crucial for strengthening democracy and accountability in India. However, without corresponding political representation, this trend may only symbolize inclusion rather than actual empowerment.
To achieve genuine political empowerment for women, the following reforms are essential:
Despite advancements in voter turnout, India continues to lag behind many democracies in women's representation. Global benchmarks suggest a target of 30–33% representation in legislatures, a standard India meets only at the panchayat level.
In states with significant male out-migration, such as Bihar and Jharkhand, women are more likely to vote locally. Conversely, cities with high male in-migration, like Mumbai, see greater male turnout as many migrant men cannot return home to vote.
In the 2024 elections, women candidates achieved a 9.3% success rate, which is higher than the 6.2% for men. However, most successful women had strong party backing, with no independent women
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