Kerala Assembly Elections 2026 | Youth weigh disillusionment, Election Commission pushes for higher voter turnout

Thiruvananthapuram/Kochi: In Kerala, as the Assembly polls approach on April 9, a sense of tension is visible among some young voters -- between disillusionment and duty.

For some, the act of voting itself feels increasingly hollow.

Archit, a 23-year-old integrated MBA student from Kollam, was recently added to the electoral roll after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). But he says he sees little reason to take part.

Officials, however, say such views underline the need to strengthen awareness about the value of voting, especially among young people. The Election Commission has noted a decline in youth turnout in recent elections, which it attributes to a mix of reluctance and apathy.

Youth organisations say concerns such as limited job opportunities, lack of higher education options and a perceived disconnect with traditional political styles continue to influence how young voters view elections.

At the same time, officials hope sustained outreach will help bridge this gap and improve participation.

"I don't see the point in going to vote. All the parties are working for their own interest and not to benefit the public. I don't see what development they have done till now, so why waste my time? If I do go, I will choose NOTA," Archit told PTI.

He added that several of his friends feel the same way.

For Shreya, a 20-year-old first-time voter from Thiruvananthapuram, the uncertainty is different. While she is keen to vote, she is unsure about which candidate to choose.

"If I vote for a candidate I like, they will only work as per the policies or agenda of their party. But, if I choose NOTA, it will be a waste of my vote," said Shreya, a Physics Honours student. She added that she plans to think carefully before making a decision, rather than voting mechanically.

A similar dilemma was expressed by Aswin Unni, a 25-year-old lawyer from Kochi and not a first-time voter. He said he prefers a particular candidate but does not agree with the politics of the candidate's party. At the same time, the party he supports does not have a strong candidate in his constituency.

"So, I have not yet decided what to do. If there is no clarity by April 9, then I will choose NOTA," he said.

A growing sense of doubt and disengagement among some young voters is being met with efforts by the Election Commission to encourage greater participation ahead of the Assembly polls.

One such move is an awareness campaign titled "My Vote, My Strength" launched by the EC on March 28 to encourage young voters to participate in the electoral process.

Citing the reasons for the disillusionment among some young voters, V Manu Prasad, state president of the BJP's youth wing-Yuva Morcha, said that the young voters in Kerala do not identify with the style of politics in the state.

"They do not feel that the present form of politics is going to bring any change in their lives.

"On the other hand, the political parties do not take into consideration the issues that concern the youth. They are not ready to discuss the politics of the younger generation," he said while speaking to PTI.

Prasad said that many youngsters feel that whosoever comes to power, it would not benefit them, and thus, they refrain from voting.

"So, while the newer generation looks for change, those following the traditional method of politics do not want that and try their best to keep away the youth," he said.

Prasad said that the BJP and Yuva Morcha have been carrying out awareness programmes to encourage a better turnout among the youth.

Youth Congress state secretary Nobal Kumar has a similar take on the issue.

He believes that, due to a lack of good education options and job opportunities, many youth are going abroad for studies and employment.

"This reduces the number of young voters, as many of them do not bother to come home just for voting as they do not believe it will benefit them," Kumar told PTI.

He further said that there are numerous public service commission (PSC) job aspirants across the state who have cleared the exams and are there in the rank list but have not received appointments due to the non-declaration of vacancies by the government and so, they will turn up in large numbers to vote against the Left.

On the other hand, Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) national president A A Rahim does not agree with the claims of low turnout among the young voters.

Rahim, a CPI(M) MP in the Rajya Sabha, when asked if there was a reduction in the voting percentage of the youth, he replied in the negative.

"No. I don't think so. The reduction in voting might be there in all age groups. I don't believe it is only confined to the youth," he told PTI.

The EC campaign, being carried out in partnership with the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA) and the police, is trying to ensure that every citizen recognises the value of their vote and uses it properly without giving in to any temptations," the poll panel said.