Voter turnout low in Srikakulam; migration main concern

Visakhapatnam: Generally, rural voters are enthusiastic about voting. However, this time, in Srikakulam district, a rural area, 4,35,049 voters did not exercise their right to vote. Voters in the district cite various reasons for this, but the main reason appears to be migration. Some others prioritised their livelihood over participating in the democratic process.

Despite efforts by officials to raise awareness at the grassroots level through banners and posters promoting the right to vote, the voting turnout in rural areas of Srikakulam has been low. 

Pankajam, a Palasa voter, says, “My husband travelled to Saudi Arabia for a construction worker's job. He had come for our daughter's wedding. Now, he can't come back again to vote."

Appalanarasamma’s eldest son works as an unorganised labour in Pedagantyada. He and his family are registered voters in Baruva, a village near Sompeta. However, due to financial constraints, they could not travel to Baruva to vote.

Furthermore, nearly 600 voters did not cast their vote in the Bhavanapadu port project area due to some controversies involving forced land acquisition and compensation. Additionally, many voters couldn’t travel from Hyderabad to Srikakulam on time due to inadequate transportation facilities. 

The total number of voters in Srikakulam district is 1,875,934, including 739,852 women, 701,016 men and 17 transgenders. Of these, 1,440,885 people exercised their right to vote, while 4,35,049 did not. The highest number of people who did not vote was in the Srikakulam constituency, with 81,385 voters abstaining. Additionally, 36,010 voters did not vote in Amadalavalasa, 51,716 in Palasa, 46,055 in Tekkali, and 62,269 in Pathapatnam. In Ichapuram, 78,964 voters did not vote, while 40,929 in Etcherla and 37,723 in Narasannapeta also chose not to exercise their right to vote.