The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Bengaluru): In a surprising turn of events, nearly half of the eligible voters in Bengaluru opted not to participate in the recent Lok Sabha elections. Election Commission officials cited the intense summer heat as a primary deterrent, which prevented many from visiting polling stations.
Despite the low turnout in Bengaluru, nearby rural areas and other districts reported significantly higher participation. Bangalore Rural recorded a voter turnout of 67.29%, while Mandya and Kolar saw even higher rates of 81.48% and 78.07%, respectively.
In response to the trend of low urban turnout observed in previous elections, the Election Commission of Karnataka implemented several new measures aimed at making voting more accessible and convenient. These initiatives included the use of mobile apps, QR codes on voter slips to help locate polling booths, and detailed information about polling station facilities like parking and queue lengths.
The ‘Voter Helpline’ and ‘Know Your Candidate’ services were also promoted to encourage electoral participation. The Commission’s efforts to improve facilities at polling stations were informed by feedback from a survey conducted after similarly low turnouts in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly election and past Lok Sabha elections. Despite these efforts, the turnout in Bengaluru remained disappointingly low, highlighting the ongoing challenge of mobilizing urban voters.
