As Nagaland prepares for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections scheduled for 19 April, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Vyasan R, informed that the state has 13.17 lakh registered voters. This comprises 6.60 lakh females and 6.50 lakh males, with an additional 19,000 individuals being first-time voters for the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
With India boasting the world’s largest youth population, constituting approximately 66% of the total population, the Election Commission of India has been actively encouraging youngsters to participate in the democratic process. Various campaigns have been launched targeting urban and youth apathy towards electoral participation.
Youth engagement: A mixed bag
Mokokchung Times conducted interviews with young voters across different districts in Nagaland to gauge their involvement and enthusiasm in the democratic festival. The responses were diverse, highlighting both the challenges and the eagerness among the youth to participate.
Many young voters expressed their desire to vote but faced obstacles such as voter registration issues and transportation problems. A 26-year-old female student from Mokokchung town lamented, “I want to vote, but I cannot because my vote is in the village, and transportation is a challenge.”
Echoing similar sentiments, a 27-year-old youth residing in New Delhi cited work and training commitments as barriers to traveling to his hometown for voting. He expressed skepticism about the significance of traveling across states to exercise his voting right, questioning whether his vote had already been predetermined by his village.
A voter from Wokha shared that she is unsure whether she will be able to vote as she is currently not in her hometown. Among the interviewees, many youths expressed a desire to vote but stated that they were “out of station” from where their votes have been registered.
It may be added that Former Chief Electoral Officer, Nagaland, V Shashank Shekhar, IAS, has highlighted during a CEO’s Conference in 2021 that there are many students and young working professionals studying or working outside their respective States and, therefore, there is now an emphasis for the department to connect with this section of the population and to further facilitate enrolment and participation for these voters.
Another female voter from Dimapur mentioned that she will not be voting because “she is not interested in politics.” Meanwhile, some youths from Mokokchung said they will not be voting as they “do not have a voter ID.”
It may be noted that apart from the Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC), several other photo documents can be used to establish identity and cast votes at polling stations, including passports, driving licences, and service identity cards issued by government bodies, and many others.
Young voters’ perspectives
There were also young voters who expressed enthusiasm for upcoming elections and emphasized the importance of free and fair process. A 23-year-old student from Fazl Ali College shared her enthusiasm about voting for the first time. “I have never cast my vote before as I was never at home, but this time I am looking forward to it,” she remarked.
Similarly, Medemren, a student at Jubilee Memorial College, emphasized the importance of a “free and fair election.” He stated that a truly democratic election allows voters to form their opinions independently, free from external influences. Medemren cited the example of the State Assembly elections and advocated for elections to be “free from the village electoral practices.” He stressed the necessity for voters to have a clear understanding of political ideology without being swayed by biases.
Tiarenla, a 21-year-old voter from Fazl Ali College, echoed the sentiment of excitement and stressed the responsibilities that come with voting. She emphasized that voters should understand their duties by exercising their rights and being responsible citizens to comprehend the essence of democracy. Tiarenla believes that a free and fair election should be devoid of narrow-mindedness, biases, and bribery.
Highlighting a concerning issue, she stated, “There are some voters who because of poverty often sell their vote and compromise their free will to vote. This should not be present in a free and fair election.” She further opined, “If you do not vote, you don’t have the right to criticize the government either.”
The varying perspectives of young voters in Nagaland highlight the complexities of youth engagement in democratic processes. While some face challenges in participating, others are eager to exercise their democratic right and advocate for a transparent and fair election process.
RELATED NEWS: CEO Nagaland informs on documents required for voting | Voter Information Slip not accepted as proof of identity