Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Will the Gen Z or young voters caste their vote?

KAKALI DAS

During India’s election season, 986 million individuals will cast their votes, with the majority likely falling between the ages of 18 to 30, representing the average voter profile.

In our nation of 1.4 billion people, the population is predominantly youthful, with 65% below the age of 35 and 50% below the age of 25. This vibrant youth cohort holds the potential to steer the country’s future. As they head to the ballot box, the question arises: who will they choose to vote for?

For a more mature candidate, typically between the ages of 45 to 65, only 12% of the current Members of Parliament (MPs) in India are below 40 years old.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Will the Gen Z or young voters caste their vote?

Will this election witness improved representation of the youth? What are the aspirations of young voters? Whom do they endorse? How do they stay informed about political developments? What are their foremost concerns?

Generation Z, often referred to as Gen Z, encompasses individuals born between 1997 and 2012. The oldest members are several years into their careers, while the youngest are around 12 years old. Gen Z has been shaped by various factors, including coming of age during a global pandemic.

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Gen Z experiences climate anxiety and navigates a financially uncertain world, which influences their career paths. As the first digital natives, having grown up with the Internet, they possess unique characteristics that extend to their political beliefs and actions.

Gen Z is poised to revolutionize the electoral scene. In 2020, they significantly influenced the outcome of the US presidential election, with 65% of young voters casting their ballots for Joe Biden. Similarly, in Indonesia this year, first-time voters wielded considerable influence by electing former general Prabowo Subianto as their next President. India also witnesses active political engagement among Gen Z.

Check out this survey focusing on Indian adults aged 18 to 40, exploring their preferences and dislikes. Interestingly, politics has become the latest trend, or as Gen Z puts it, the new “Slay”.

The statistics back this up – 77% find voting appealing, 41% deem it significant, and they prioritize partners who are politically active. Additionally, 46% consider political affiliations important, while 44% value open-mindedness on political matters.

Some even have non-negotiables – 15% refuse to date someone who doesn’t vote. Clearly, politics holds significant importance for them, motivating many to exercise their democratic rights.

In 2019, India witnessed 15 million first-time voters in the 18 to 19 age group. This year, the number has risen to 18 million, indicating a notable increase. Several states, including West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, have reported a surge in the number of young voters. Consequently, the youth constitutes a significant electorate, prompting political parties to actively court their support.

To appeal to Gen Zs, reaching them through social media is paramount, as it’s where the youth spend a significant portion of their time. To capture their attention, being tech-savvy is essential.

40% of Gen Zs report getting political updates from Instagram, followed by 26% who prefer YouTube, 17% who use Twitter, and only 12% who opt for Facebook. Consequently, political parties are adapting their strategies, focusing on digital campaigns, collaborating with influencers, creating reels, and actively engaging with the youth on social media platforms.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is virtually engaging with first-time voters, while Rahul Gandhi is interacting with youth in universities. Additionally, there are e-magazines and podcasts aimed at reaching out to the younger demographic.

Are these strategies yielding results? When it comes to selecting a party, the youth consider various metrics.

For instance, 19% prioritize the issues raised by the party, 15% assess the party’s leadership, and 10% are influenced by family ties – if their family supports a party, they are inclined to follow suit. Additionally, 14% factor in whether the party has young candidates, while 10% consider community or caste affiliations – candidates from the same community or caste are more likely to receive their votes.

Even the younger generation votes their caste when casting their votes, and their preferences have been evident over the decades. During the 1950s to 1960s, Jawaharlal Nehru’s larger-than-life image as Prime Minister appealed to the youth, leading to nearly 47% of first-time voters supporting the Congress party.

However, support for the Congress party plummeted in the 1970s due to high inflation, unemployment, and the imposition of the emergency, with only around 28% of youth voters backing the party during that period.

In the 1990s, India’s economy opened up, yet support for the Congress party among first-time voters remained steady at 32%. However, other parties, such as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), were also gaining traction during this period.

Between 1990 and 2000, the BJP emerged as the preferred party for first-time voters, a trend that saw a significant surge in 2014, with 34% of the youth casting their votes in favor of the BJP.

In 2019, the number surged further, with 41% of the youth casting their votes in favor of the BJP. They were perceived as the X Factor behind the BJP’s resounding victory. In contrast, both in 2014 and 2019, only 19% of India’s youth voted for the Congress party.

The youth’s preferences have been evident, as is their list of concerns. Topping it is Unemployment – with nearly 8 million young Indians entering the job market annually, there simply aren’t enough jobs to accommodate them.

In 2014, India’s employable youth constituted nearly 34% of the population. Today, that proportion has increased to 51.3%. This significant rise explains why jobs are their primary concern, with 36% identifying it as the biggest problem.

Additionally, poverty is a major concern for 18% of young voters, while 13% are worried about inflation, 6% are concerned about corruption, and 4% are bothered by India’s large population. These factors are likely to influence their choices in this election.

The growing number of young voters and their political activism are positive developments. However, there are challenges such as voter registration, as not all first-time voters are registering. Voter apathy, particularly in urban areas, poses another challenge.

While the youth may be politically charged and opinionated, the question remains whether they will actually turn out to cast their votes or if their enthusiasm will diminish as the election progresses.

Note – To all young voters out there, remember that your vote holds immense power to shape the future of your country. Your choice is significant—it’s both your right and your duty to participate in the democratic process. You might think that one vote won’t make much of a difference, but imagine the impact if thousands share the same mindset! Every vote counts and can make a substantial difference. Therefore, it’s crucial to get registered, familiarize yourself with your constituency and candidates, actively participate in the election process, and cast your vote.

25-04-2024

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