Meaning of Voting Behaviour.

Voting behaviour is also known as electrol behaviour. It is a form of political behaviour. It is a form of political behaviour. It implies the behaviour of voters in the context of elections in a democratic political system. Voting behaviour (orthe study of voting behaviour) is defined in the following way:

Plano and Riggs : ” Voting behaviour is a field of study concerned wit the ways in which people tend to vote in public elections and the reasons why they vote as they do”.

GORDON MARSHALL :- ” The study of Voting behaviour invariably focuses on the determinants of why people vote as they do and how they arrive at the decision they make “.

OINAM Kulabudhu : Voting behaviour may be defined as the behaviour that explicitly reflects voter’s choices, preferences, alternatives, ideologies, concerns , agreement,. And programmes in respect of various issues, question pertaining to the society and nation”.

Stephen Wasby :- ” The study of voting behaviour involves an analysis of individual psychological make – up and their relation to political action as well as institutional patterns,. Such as the communication process and their impact on election “.

Significance of Voting Behaviour

psephology a branch of political science, deals with the scientific study of voting behaviour. This is a new term popularised by the American political Scientist and political sociologists.

The recorded history of voting goes back at least, to the Greek Polis. The modern world for the study of voting Behaviour, psephology, derives from the classical Greek ‘ Psephos’ , the piece of pottery on which certain votes, mainly about the banishment of those seen as dangerous to the state, were inscribed.

The study of voting behaviour is significant for the following reasons:

1. It helps in comprehending the process of political socialisation.
2. 2. It helps in examining the internalisation of democracy as a value among the elite as well as masses.
3. It emphasises the real impact of revolutionary ballot box.
4. iIt ensbles to throw light as to how far the electoral politics continue or break with the past.
5. It helps to measure whether it is modern or primodial in the context of political development.

According to N.G.S. Kini, voting behaviour can be regarded as :

1. A mode of legitimising democratic rule:
2. Instancing ” particiption ” in the political process involving integration into the political community;
3. A role – action involving definite political orientation imbedded in a particular type of political culture; or
4. Instancing an act of decision – making:
5. Adirect relation of the individual citizens to the formal government.

Determinants Of Voting Behaviour

Indian society is highly diversified in nature and composition. Hence , voting behaviour in India is determined or influenced by multiple factors . These several factors can be divided, into two broad categories, namely ,. Socio – economic. Factors and political factors. These are explained below:

1. CASTE:

Caste is an important factor influencing the behaviour of voters. Politicisation of caste and casteism in politics has been a remarkable feature of Indian politics. Rajni Kothari said ” Indian politics is casteism, and caste is politicised .While formulating their election strategies, the political parties always take into account the factor of caste.

Paul Brass has very – well explained the role of caste factor in the Indian voting behaviour in the following way: ” At the local level, in the country side, by far the most important factor in voting behaviour remains caste solidarity. Large and important castes in a constituency tend to back either a respected member of their caste or political party with whom their caste members identify. However , local factions and local – state factional alignments that involve inter- caste coalition, are also important factors in influencing voting behaviour “.

2.Religion:

Religion is another significant factor which influences the electoral behaviour.Political parties indulge in communal propaganda and exploit the religious sentiments of the voters. The existence of various communal parties has further added to the politicisation of religion. Despite India being a secular nation, no political party ignores the influence of religion in electoral politics.

3.language:

Linguistic considerations of the people influence their voting of the people influence their voting behaviour. During elections, the political parties arourse the linguistic feelings of the people and try to influence their decision – making. The re- organization of states ( in 1956 and later) on language basis clearly reflects the significance of language factors in Indian politics. The rise of some political parties like DMK in Tamil Nadu and TDP in Andhara Pradesh can be attributed to the linguism.

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