Only 10 per cent vote on party lines: Study

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala society is considered highly politically sensitive one but a recent survey by Kerala University has found that only 10.7 per cent people vote on party lines.   The survey conducted by the political science deprtment for the Election Commission has also found that influence of religious leaders, head of the family and friends also was very negligible.

“Among the various reasons for voting, 76.6 per cent said it is their ‘right’ and 53.9 per cent  opined it as their ‘duty’.  About 22 per cent exercised their franchise because the candidate was good. Only 17.8 percent believe that their ‘vote can change things’. Those who vote along party lines are only 10.7 per cent. Casting of vote under duress is very rare in Kerala: their share is only 1.6 per cent, according to the finding by a team lead by Dr. Shaji Varkey, faculty of the department.

The survey found that there record of registration for vote by Muslim women in Malabar is poor as political parties are not very keen on getting them registered.
Only a massive awareness campaign can change this trend, the survey suggested. Block level officers will have to work overtime in such areas to ensure that all eligible women register as voters.

Voting percentage is more or less same among various social categories. It is 88 per cent among females, 87.5 per cent among males, 90.1 per cent among SCs, 88 per cent among STs and 86.4 per cent among OBCs. Only 38 per cent of those in the age group of 18-19 were not enrolled in the state's voters list and hence registration for the young age group shall be given importance.

The objective of the survey, conducted through sample surveys, group discussions and interviews with personalities belonging to various sectors, was to identify the measures to further enhance the voter turnout in the state.