Voter Turnout in Sikkim: An Assessment

     The essence of democracy lies in public participation. It is the bedrock on which democracy rests. There are numerous ways of public participation in democracy, one of them being voting in elections. Voting plays a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of any democratic state. It allows citizens to exercise their right to choose their representatives and participate in the decision-making process. Voting is not only a right but also a civic duty, and by exercising it, individuals actively participate in the democratic process and contribute to the overall progress of the country.

       People's participation in election is usually appraised by voter turnout figures. Some countries like Australia, Belgium and Sweden have the highest voter turnout in the world with nearly 90 per cent and more registered voters casting their ballot.[1]Similarly, although the United States of America being one of the oldest modern democracies in the world has the voter turnout of around 66 per cent only.[2] 

      India, the largest populated country and also the largest democracy in the world has its total electorate over 94.50 crore as per January 1, 2024 record. In 1951, when the voter lists for the first general elections were prepared, India had 17.32 crore registered electors and 45.67 per cent had turned up to exercise their franchise in the newly-born Republic. The number of registered electors witnessed a gradual increase over the years, and so did their participation in the subsequent elections. India has witnessed a nearly six-fold increase in the total number of voters since 1951.

      The 2019 general elections had 91.20 crore registered voters and had seen 67.40% turning up at the polling booths to cast their votes.But almost one-third of the voters stayed away from exercising their franchise in the polls. People from urban areas, youth and migrants were part of the category of these 30 crore missing voters[3]

     Amongst the states in India, states like  Andhra  Pradesh ,West Bengal and all the North Eastern states except Meghalaya and Mizoram  had more  than 80 per cent  voters  turnout; whereas, Jammu &Kashmir, Bihar  and  Uttar  Pradesh had lower than 60 per  cent  voter  turnout in the  2019 general elections.[4]

      The voter turnout in Sikkim in the 2019 general elections was 81.41 per cent. But before we comment on the voter turnout graph of Sikkim, it is imperative for us to reflect on the electoral history of Sikkim to have better understanding about how it was introduced in the erstwhile Himalayan kingdom and how it has evolved over the course of time.

Electoral History Of Sikkim

      The system of election of representatives by the people was introduced in Sikkim in1953 when Sikkim was still a Kingdom. Before that there was no such system prevailing in Sikkim.

     When Sikkim was first organized as a Buddhist kingdom in 1642 by the Bhutia migrants, the first Chogyal,[5]Phuntsok Namgyal had divided his Kingdom into twelve Dzongs (districts) and placed each under 12 Lepcha Dzongpana (governors). He had also appointed 12 councillors to aid and advice him who were later on came to be known as Kazis.[6]  

     When Sikkim became a British Protectorate in 1890, the first British Political Officer of Sikkim, Sir John Claude White created a State Council to advice the ruler in the administration of the State. The first State Council consisted of four members and in the later years the membership rose to nine. These members consisted of senior and experienced men nominated by the ruler representing all interest of the Sikkimese society. They were nominated from all parts of the country.

     The administrative system of the Kingdom was completely transformed after the agitation of the people in 1949.People started demanding democracy and democratic rule rather than the dictates of the Palace. Hence, it necessitated the introduction of an Advisory Council representing the people chosen through election which would be associated with the Dewan (Prime Minister).This system of election of representatives territory-wise was hitherto unknown in Sikkim.[7]

     The first election for the State Council of Sikkim was held in 1953.The Council had seventeen members of which twelve were elected by the people. According to the parity formula,[8] of these twelve elective seats, six were reserved for Sikkimese Bhutia-Lepcha community and the rest for the Sikkimese of Nepali origin. The remaining five members were nominated by the Maharaja at his discretion. Sikkim was divided into four territorial constituencies: Gangtok, North-Central, Namchi and Pemayangtse for the election of twelve representatives. The principle of universal adult franchise was adopted as the mode of election and the tenure of the Council was fixed to be three years.

     Since no uniform system of election procedure was framed in the Kingdom, the rules for holding elections kept changing from time to time as per the proclamation of Maharaja. The next election which was due in 1956 was not held that year; it was held only in 1958. The seats in the council were raised from 17 to 20 in this election. The third Council election was due in 1961 but it was held only in 1967.The State Council as constituted was allowed to continue in the office till the next election. In this election, Sikkim was divided into five territorial constituencies: East, West, North, South and Gangtok Town Constituency, one general and one Sangha[9] Constituency. The membership of the Council was also increased from 20 to 24.The fourth election was held in April 1970 and the fifth election in January 1973.

      The election of 1973 was a turning point in the political history of Sikkim. After the election results were declared, the agitation started in the capital on the allegation of the Palace having rigged the 1973 polls to the advantage of the Sikkim National Party.[10]  The political turmoil in the state boiled down in signing of the Tripartite Agreement on 8th May of 1973.

      One of the important provisions in the Tripartite Agreement was that it sought to establish a responsible government and thus provided for a Legislative Assembly for Sikkim and an Executive Council responsible to the Assembly. The Assembly was to be elected every four years on the basis of “one man, one vote” adult franchise under the supervision of the Election Commission of India. The Agreement provided for a thirty-two member Assembly. According to the parity formula, fifteen seats each were allotted to the B-Ls and the Nepalese with two reserved seats, one for the Scheduled Castes and the other for the Sangha.

     Sikkim went to the polls under this new system in April, 1974. With the change in the system of governance, series of events occurred in Sikkim.  The kingdom (although Sikkim was not a fully fledged sovereign kingdom but a protectorate state of India) became an associate state of India in September, 1974 and on May 16, 1975; Sikkim merged with India and became the 22^nd state of Indian Union shedding its identity as a separate entity. The original Assembly of the kingdom continued as such as the Assembly of the state of Sikkim under the Constitution of India.

     The first election in Sikkim after its merger with India was held in 1979.After this, elections were held regularly in every five years. Let us now try to assess Sikkimese people’s participation in the democratic process by examining the voter turnout in elections in Sikkim.

      Table: Voter Turnout In Elections In Sikkim.

Source: Statistical Report of Election Commission of India

Significance Of High Voter Turnout

       High voter turnout is important because it is a mark of a thriving democracy and the measure of civic participation in the democratic practice.    High voter turnout ensures that the election results reflect the will of the whole population. The elected representatives have a stronger mandate to govern and the government’s legitimacy is enhanced. It increases government’s accountability towards the voters and also contributes to political stability by reducing the chances of   protests, unrest, or challenges to the legitimacy of the government. Moreover, with high voter turnout, the policies framed by the government are more likely to reflect a broader consensus of the population. High voter turnout also fosters civic engagement and a sense of civic duty among the people. Consequently, voters are more informed and they are more likely to make informed decisions.

     Having said that, it is worthwhile to note that high voter turnout does not always indicate a healthy election, especially in fourth world or global south countries. For example, based on data from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, Rwanda had the voter turnout of 98.15 per cent in 2017 presidential election. But watchdog group Freedom House gives Rwanda a score of 4 points out of 28 in the categories of the electoral process and political participation, stating that Rwandan elections are "marred by numerous irregularities," which included forcing citizens to view propaganda, preventing certain candidates from running, unfair registration practices, and stuffing ballot boxes.[12]Hence, high voter turnout in free and fair elections is important and necessary in democracy.

Closing Thoughts

     Voting right is granted to the citizens of many (but not all) countries around the world particularly in democratic countries and republics. However, not every person eligible to vote does. The reasons for this phenomenon vary. Globally, voter turnout has decreased over time in recent decades. Election experts have identified multiple causes for this trend. Voter apathy is one—young voters in particular are more likely to be unaware of the voting process or disenchanted with what they see as a corrupt and dysfunctional system. Another influential cause is voter suppression, especially in countries classified by the Democracy Index as flawed democracies or authoritarian regimes.

       As we have seen, in India also not every citizen votes. The  ECI is  walking extra mile to achieve   at least  70 per  cent  of  voter  turnout in this  general elections of  2024; but it is showing a  trend of decreasing voter enthusiasm  with phase 2 turnout lower than  the previous  general election. There are different factors responsible for this trend, for instance, extreme heat waves in plains but some dominant factors include urban apathy, unaware and disinterested young voters and internal migration of voters.    

     While in case of Sikkim, the voter turnout graph has remained above 80 per cent since the last three decades. In the recent 2024 general elections, there were 4.64 lakh voters eligible to exercise their franchise in the state. Amongst them, the Assembly elections recorded a voter turnout of 79.77 per cent while the number of voters for the lone Lok Sabha seat was 80.03 per cent. Yoksom- Tashiding assembly constituency registered the highest voter turnout at 85.37 per cent, while the capital Gangtok assembly   constituency witnessed the lowest turnout at 63.66 per cent.

      The process of election is not very old in the state as the existing system of election was introduced only after the merger of the state in India in 1975. However, it is quite interesting to note that from the very inception of the election process in the state, Sikkim is far ahead in voter turnout than many other big states of the country.

     Another remarkable feature of electoral process of Sikkim is the involvement of youths. Since the youth represent a large section of our total population, their active involvement is very important. While the nation is grappling with non- involvement and lackadaisical attitude of young voters, youths in Sikkim are seriously involved in electoral process and politics at large. Undoubtedly, the youth in the Indian political system have now started taking interest in politics gradually and handful of them is seriously involved in it. In Sikkim, the process was started much earlier. However, their involvement and attitude towards political affairs has changed enormously in the last 10 years. Earlier, they were mostly recognized as muscle power of different political parties, today, they want to contest and win the elections. Youths are seen debating over the policies of political parties in the national news channels. They have taken up politics as a career and have recognized their role as a catalyst for change in the society.

     High voter turnout is very important for healthy democracy. Increasing voter turnout means that societies can choose more inclusive, responsive, and effective governments serving all citizens. By addressing the factors contributing to low voter turnout and implementing strategies to improve participation, democratic societies can work towards unlocking the true potential of democratic systems.

(Dr. Sapna Gurung is Ph.D  (Political Science), an Independent Researcher in Politics in Sikkim. Email: sapnaconnectioin@gmail.com)