States have witnessed an incremental women voter turnout of 1.8 crore in 2024 over 2019 primarily because of implementation of women centric schemes, according to SBI Research.

This is also the result of many states launching income transfer schemes, among others.

Analysts in SBI’s economic research department (ERD) suggested that to allow every citizen to cast his/her valuable vote, the Election Commission (EC) should implement a robust absentee voting system – around 30 crore as per EC estimates.

Absentee voting system includes postal voting, early voting, proxy voting or electronic voting options – that allows the person to exercise his right in the biggest festival of democracy.

• Also read: Red chilli prices trend lower as new crop hits markets

Out of 1.8 crore incremental women voters, 45 lakh rise is attributable to a increase in literacy; 36 lakh can be attributable to employment /Mudra Yojana among others; 20 lakh is attributable to House Ownership under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana; 21 lakh is attributable to Sanitation – Electricity access and improved drinking water source show positive coefficients on female voter turnout, per researchers of SBI’s economic research department (ERD).

The ERD’s analysis is based on a comprehensive set of research data that the Election Commission has released (the first of its kind across any country in the world).

“While more than 9 crore more voters cast their votes in last decade, 58 per cent of them are female voters (~5.3 crore). Overall turnout ratio has increased significantly in SC/ST category (particularly in the case of females), again indicating the empowerment of those at bottom of pyramid,” the ERD said.

Average women voter turnout in 19 states, which implemented women centric schemes, increased by 7.8 lakh (cumulatively: 1.5 crore) in 2024 as compared to increase of only 2.5 lakh (cumulatively: 0.3 crore) in states where no-such schemes were launched after 2019, it added.