Theoretical Perspective of Voting Behaviour in India: Approaches and Determinants

Abstract

Voting is one of the fundamental types of political support in liberal law based society. It is a key transform in the democratic set up and assumes critical part in smooth functioning and existence of democracy. Voting is acknowledged as the instrument of reaching consensus and in the period a basic method of institutionalizing clashes amid different aggregations. On equitable systems, their number is truly huge and at increasing point, every grown-up resident utilizes ‘voting’ as a means for expressing his approval or disapproval of governmental decisions, approaches and programmes of different political parties and the qualities of the candidates who are engaged in the battle until get the status of being the delegates of the people. The behaviour of a voter is influence by several factors such as religion, caste, community, language, money, policy or ideology, purpose of the polls, extent of franchise and the like political parties and groups make use of these variables for the sake of winning the battle of the ballot box. Diverse factors that comprise both political and non-political have an effect on it. Its determinants are vast and wide-ranging, and differ from one person to another to a substantial degree. Voting behaviour is determined by the political attitudes, assumptions, policy preferences, and partisan loyalties of individuals and the political and institutional context within which they cast their votes in an election. The main purpose of the present study is to highlight the approaches and major determinants which are affecting voting behaviour in India.