Voter Turnout and Electoral Governance in the 2024 National Elections: A Comparative Study of Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Voter turnout is dependent on several factors, and it is highly related to electoral fairness. A free and fair election reflects that the people have the independence to cast their vote or exercise their franchise according to their own wishes. On the other hand, elections in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India are highly marred by violence and fraudulent voting.

Methodology: The study is a secondary study. The data were mostly collected from the renowned newspapers’ websites of the respected countries, and the data have been analyzed thematically.

Findings: Voter turnout was the highest in India, which implied that India’s democracy was comparatively better than Bangladesh and Pakistan, whereas the latter countries did not experience voter turnout above 50%. All countries attempted to manipulate the election, but India had the lowest impact, and the BJP lost its constituencies compared to the previous election. Furthermore, India’s election was marred by communalism and hate speech, while Bangladesh faced a new phenomenon of dummy candidates and a dummy election.

Conclusion: Despite irregularities, Indian people have more confidence in the electoral institutions compared to the Bangladeshi and Pakistani people. In comparison, less than 50% of the voters in both Pakistan and Bangladesh cast their vote in the last national election.

voter turnout, communalism, hate speech, free and fair elections, dummy candidates and dummy voters.