It registered a percentage in the high seventies, of 78.94 that is a figure to boast about, when polling in Uttarakhand on the same day saw a 62.50 per cent polling and the second phase of the Uttar Pradesh polls saw 62.22 per cent. In comparison Goa’s almost 79 per cent can be construed to be a massive response to the quinquennial democratic exercise. But in a State where there is tremendous political awareness was it actually a high figure?
Goa has almost always registered high voter turnouts, but this year’s date with democracy fell far short of the voter turnout of five years ago when it had stood at 82.56 per cent. Polling booths on February 14 were busy all through the day and the two-hourly reports released by the election office kept showing a rising trend, which led to the belief that Goa would set a new record this election and show the rest of the country just how seriously the Goans take their civic duties and responsibilities. At the end of a long day and evening, the figure released by the election office was disappointing for statisticians as well as for the poll pundits, who base most of the their forecasts on possible outcomes of the polls on the voting percentage and trends.
It is usually believed that high turnouts signify bad news for the outgoing MLAs and the government in power. The belief is related to the fact that people angry with the government have come out to vote against it. This could be true when one looks at the broader picture of the State as a whole and of parties. Goa’s last two elections that saw polling percentages crossing the 80 mark both times rejected the incumbent government. That the Congress was unable to form a government despite being the single largest party in 2017 is an entirely different matter and part of history. The high turnout this election therefore could portend bad news for the government and the MLAs.
The lower turnout does raise the question of whether Goans have lost interest in the election process and if so why has it occurred. The past five years have not been a model period of governance or of the conduct of the politicians and their parties. It started hours after the results were declared and Congress, the party that was the single largest faltered in the race to form a government. The long list of defections through the past 59 months, that culminated with 40 per cent of the MLAs quitting their membership of the Legislative Assembly and skipping over to other parties – may have only added to the people’s ennui with the political process.
Yet, Goa’s polling numbers simultaneously, especially when compared with some other States, do show that the people are not willing to quietly accept the decision of their neighbours and that they will go out there and participate in the elections.
There was a drop in the voting percentage – the final figure after counting the postal ballots could touch 80 per cent which would be lower than that of the previous election – but it still indicates that the Goan wants to participate in electing the government and being part of the democratic process. It perhaps required a few more efforts from the part of the election office and the election icons to get people out there to vote. The ground work of the block level officers also needs to be reviewed, as there were instances of names missing from the voter’s list. The State election officials may need to relook at the matter.
