2024 general elections saw 1.8 crore more female voters, thanks to women-centric schemes: SBI Research

Out of the over 9 crore incremental voters in the last decade, 58 percent or 5.3 crore were women, according to the research report.

The 2024 general elections saw 1.8 crore more females turning up to vote compared to the previous polls held during 2019, thanks to implementation of one or more women-centric schemes, among others, a research report from the economic department of State Bank of India (SBI) revealed on January 9.

Based on the data released by the Election Commission of India, the SBI research report concluded that total electors increased from 83.4 crore in 2014 to 97.8 crore in
2024, with female electors catching up with their male counterpart.

Currently, for every 100 male electors there are 95 female voters.

Out of the over 9 crore incremental voters in the last decade, 58 percent or 5.3 crore were women, according to the research report.

The report attributed the incremental increase in women voters to income transfer schemes as well, that buoyed literacy and employment, like Mudra Yojana, housing plans, sanitation, electricity and improved drinking water.

While, the addition of 45 lakh female voters can be attributed to a rise in literacy, better employment or the Mudra Yojana can be credited for 36 lakh female voters.

20 lakh more female voters turned up to caste their pick in the 2024 elections due to benefits extended through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, whereas 21 lakh can be attributed to measures that aided sanitation.

Average women voter turnout in 19 beneficiary states increased by 7.8 lakh in 2024, as compared to an increase of only 2.5 lakh in states where no-such schemes were launched after 2019, the report noted.

The observation that women-centric schemes led to an increase in female voter turnout comes at a time when many states have embarked on announcing or implementing such plans right before polls.

Ahead of assembly election in Delhi on February 5, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party as well as the Congress have promised cash transfer schemes for women.

The 2024 general elections were conducted between April 19 and June 1 last year in seven phases, to elect 543 members to the Lok Sabha.

SBI's economic department recommended implementing a robust absentee system in a bid to allow around 30 crore such voters (as per estimates from Election Commission) to cast their votes.

"...In terms of postal voting, early voting, proxy voting or electronic voting options – that allows the person to exercise his right in the biggest festival of democracy," the report said.