Comparative study of factors influencing electoral behaviour of men & women voters in urban India: A micro level study of Nagpur city

This study was conducted to identify factors and assess their impact on the electoral behavior of men and women in urban India through an analysis of participation in electoral activities such as voting, campaigning, and attending public meetings. The research was descriptive in nature and carried out in the urban areas of Nagpur city. Data were collected through an extensive survey of 300 electorates (150 men and 150 women), who were selected using a convenience sampling technique and a structured questionnaire. The findings revealed that the electoral behavior of both men and women is influenced by a multitude of factors. It was concluded that association with ongoing electoral processes and political organizations (factor contribution (FC) 9.4%) serves as the primary determinant of men's electoral behavior, while family and caste affiliations (persuasion FC 11%) were found to significantly influence women's electoral behavior. The significant factors for participation in political campaigns by men are: showing support to the party/candidate (significant at 5% ls), establishing social contact (significant at 1% ls), impression of candidate (significant at 1% ls), easy accessibility of candidate (significant at 1% ls) and sense of political activeness (significant at 1% ls); whereas for female they are: showing support to the party/candidate (significant at 1% ls) and establishing social contact (significant at 5% ls). The study emphasizes the need for political parties to acknowledge their accountability to voters, as their public image exerts a profound influence on the electoral behavior of Indian electorates, both male and female.