How much do today’s youth know about politics and elections? Revealed in the survey

Have you ever thought about what things the youth of the country knows better, or how much he understands politics. What is the image about the leaders among the youth or do they know the importance of their vote or not? These are some of the questions that are often discussed. Organized by Lokniti Program of Center for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), Delhi Young Voters Awareness and Opinion Survey 2023 I have found the answers to these questions. The results revealed in the survey are quite surprising.

This survey was conducted between January 16 and January 20, in which 761 students of Delhi University and its affiliated colleges were included. The age of the people involved in the survey was between 18 and 34 years. Today National Voters Day is being celebrated across the country. During the survey, when the students were asked whether they knew when the next national election would be held. 7 out of 10 students answered it as 2024. Most of the students studying in PG gave the correct answer to this question. Humanities students answered this question more correctly than science and commerce stream.

less number of registered voters

The survey revealed that 55 percent of the students involved were registered voters. However, men were more enrolled in the voter list than women. Students in the age group of 18-19 years and those pursuing graduation were less willing to join the voter list than the older students. When asked why they haven’t enrolled themselves in the voter list, 53 percent said they didn’t have time. 12 per cent said they did so because of the listing process. There was also 1 person in 10 who said that he is not interested in voting.

Here is the opinion on EVM, retirement for politicians

In the CSDS survey, it came out that 9 out of 10 youth believed that their votes mattered. 90 percent of the people said that their vote matters, in which the number of men was 89 percent and 91 percent of women. Amidst the debate about EVM, the youth have preferred it over the ballot paper. Four out of five youths said that they would choose EVM over ballot paper.

The results of the survey show that three out of four youth believe that there should be a retirement age for politicians as well. 75 percent agreed about the retirement age. Four out of five youth say that there should be some kind of minimum educational qualification to contest elections. Only three out of five youths supported holding simultaneous elections.