Recent local body elections in Kerala have highlighted a concerning trend: decreasing voter turnout across the state. The initial phase of polling across seven southern districts recorded a uniform decline of 3%, indicating a shift in voter engagement. Alarmingly, participation levels have fallen below those seen during the pandemic year of 2020.
Declining Participation in Kerala’s Local Elections
The districts of Pathanamthitta, Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Idukki each exhibited this downward trend. Among them, Pathanamthitta posted the lowest voter turnout in Phase I at 66.78%. This district has a significant overseas population, which contributes to its historically low participation rates.
District-Specific Turnout Rates
- Pathanamthitta: 66.78% – Lowest turnout.
- Thiruvananthapuram: 67.47% – Down from 70.02% in 2020 and 71.9% in 2015.
- Ernakulam: 74.57% – Highest among the districts, yet down nearly 3% from the last election.
- Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Idukki: Around 3% decrease in voter turnout.
Thiruvananthapuram’s performance is particularly noteworthy. The voter participation in its corporation fell to 58.29%, a drop from 59.96% in 2020 and 62.90% in 2015. This continuous decline points to potential disengagement among local voters.
Kochi’s Unique Performance
In contrast, Kochi corporation displayed a slight improvement, with turnout increasing from 62.04% to 62.44%. This uptick suggests that some urban areas may still engage effectively in the electoral process.
This overall decline in voter turnout in the first phase of Kerala’s elections serves as a critical indicator of shifting electoral dynamics. It calls for renewed efforts to re-engage voters and address the factors contributing to this trend.
