Voting behaviour refers to actions or decisions taken by the electors while voting. It involves the study of human political behaviour in the context of voting in elections. It encompasses a wide range of factors that influence how people choose their preferred candidates or political parties.

Voting behaviour is not limited to the mere examination of voting statistics, records and calculations of electoral shifts and swings. It also involves an analysis of individual psychological processes such as perception, emotion and motivation and their relation to political action and institutional patterns.

Understanding voting behaviour is crucial for political analysts, researchers, and policymakers to comprehend the dynamics of elections and the preferences of the electorate.

Significance of studying voting behaviour

The study of voting behaviour holds significant importance for the following reasons:

1. Helps analysts and researchers to understand the level of internalisation of democratic value among the masses as well as elites.
2. Helps understand public participation in democratic processes: By understanding the reasons behind voter participation or abstention, efforts can be made to enhance overall democratic participation. It can address the issue of low voter turnout.
3. Role in policymaking: Studying voting behaviour provides insights into the preferences and priorities of the voters, which can be used by policymakers to make policies that, align with the needs and desires of the population.
4. Political representation: The study of voting behaviour also helps understand if a particular community is politically represented in a fair manner.
5. Tracks shift in electoral politics: Analysis of voting behaviour helps understand the changing patterns in electoral politics. For example, how does a particular demographic group vote? What are the issues that dominate the elections? Etc. Long-term analysis also helps understand the structural changes in electoral politics.
6. Helps in campaign strategy of political parties: Political parties can benefit from the study of voting behaviour by organising their campaign effectively. By identifying the issues that resonate with specific demographics, candidates can communicate more persuasively.
7. Electoral Predictions: Psephologists use voting patterns to predict election outcomes.