Hyderabad and Secunderabad, two significant constituencies in Telangana, have emerged among the top 10 areas with the lowest voter participation nationwide during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, according to recent data released by the Election Commission of India. The turnout rates of 44.8% for Hyderabad and 46.5% for Secunderabad have raised concerns about civic engagement in these urban centers.
Telangana, as a whole, has recorded a voter turnout below the national average, standing at 62.7% during the last general elections, which is notably lower than the national average of 67.4%.
Various factors have been identified as contributing to this low voter participation, as highlighted by Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Commissioner D. Ronald Rose. Among these are work commitments that take individuals outside the city or country, daily wage earners prioritizing work over voting despite it being a holiday, and families being allocated to different polling booths, making it challenging for all members to cast their votes.
Long queues at certain polling locations, physical barriers such as railway crossings and highways hindering access to polling stations, and the complexity of individuals holding voting rights in both urban and rural areas further compound the issue.
Efforts have been underway to address these challenges. The removal of ineligible voters, including those who have relocated or are deceased, has been a priority. Following the assembly elections, approximately 3.41 lakh voters were deleted in the GHMC area, with an additional 4.37 lakh deletions before the Telangana Legislative Assembly Elections in 2023. Additionally, around 76 thousand voters were relocated to resolve split voter issues in 15 assembly segments under the Hyderabad district.
These initiatives aim to streamline the electoral process and encourage greater participation from residents of Hyderabad and surrounding areas. However, sustained efforts and community engagement will be essential to overcome the barriers to voting and ensure a more robust democratic representation in future elections.
