Ghaziabad: A severe heatwave alert issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) cast a shadow over the second phase of elections. India’s ongoing elections, stretching until June 1st, unfold against the backdrop of one of the most intense heatwaves in recent years. Record-breaking temperatures pose dire challenges to the electoral process, threatening the health and safety of voters and officials alike.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced the onset of a heatwave expected to persist across southern and eastern regions of India throughout the week. This weather phenomenon coincides with the voting process for 88 constituencies in the second phase of the 18th Lok Sabha elections, encompassing four states.
The Election Commission of India (ECI), aware of the potential risks posed by such extreme temperatures, has issued guidelines aimed at safeguarding voters and poll workers during the electoral process. These guidelines include recommendations for providing adequate water, creating shaded areas at polling stations, and even adjusting polling times to cooler parts of the day.
Despite these directives, implementation has been inconsistent across various regions, laying the groundwork for a range of experiences and reactions from the electorate. The Health on Air team visited several polling booths to gauge how voters perceived the level of preparedness and the extent to which the changing environment and extreme climate have become election issues. We sought to understand whether the shifting weather conditions are concerning enough for voters to prioritize them when casting their ballots.
“Voting is important to me, but the heat is becoming increasingly unbearable each day. I’m accustomed to it since I mostly work outdoors, but it’s getting tougher to manage as I age,” Sushma Dixit, a voter, told Health On Air.
“Of course, it would be better if the election were held during a cooler period, but whether I vote or not, I’ll still be hot, so that won’t stop me,” he added.
A voter shields himself from scorching heat as he casts his ballot in Ghaziabad.
Most voters at the Indirapuram, Ghaziabad polling booth in the morning were over 45 years old. They arrived at the polling station early to avoid the harsh noon sun. One of the voters, Vidushi Dhingra, explains, “In the morning, you can also find a seat easily. And since it’s not too hot, we come early, vote quickly, and at least avoid the sun. We’ve also brought two bottles of water ourselves.”
Many voters we spoke to linked the heat wave to global climate change. They did not believe any individual government’s policies could bring about change and thus deemed it to be a non-issue during elections.
By 1 pm, the rush had significantly decreased at multiple polling booths in Ghaziabad. Even the party workers who were sitting under tents had complaints. Upon speaking with them, one of the workers, Ashwin Singh, an agent for Congress candidate Dolly Sharma from Ghaziabad, lamented, “There’s no arrangement for food, water, or fans from the party. Our tent is also placed in areas where the sun is harsh, and there are no trees nearby for shade. We moved it farther from the polling station but into a shaded area. Without food, we are low on energy, and since morning, I’ve even been getting spells of dizziness with a burning sensation in my eyes.”
The voting experience varied starkly between affluent voters comfortably driving in air-conditioned cars and less privileged individuals facing different challenges
Among them, a young voter wearing a cap was in a rush. She commented on the heat, saying, “It’s so hot; that’s why we’re running inside. We have to vote anyway. The Election Commission hasn’t made any arrangements. There are no shades, nor is there any arrangement for water. The only relief is that this is a school, and we can go inside the campus and into the classrooms to vote, so we don’t have to stand in long lines under the scorching sun. But yes, those people whose booths are in open areas will face a lot of difficulties.”
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh registered a low voter turnout of only 52.74%, lower than the cumulative turnout of 63 percent.
Disparate perceptions: The impact of privilege on voter experience and hint of climate denial
Privileged voters often navigate the challenges of extreme heat during election periods more comfortably due to personal resources such as air-conditioned cars and portable shades.
This contrasts with less affluent voters who, lacking such amenities, face direct exposure to harsh conditions without any relief.
Laxman Singh, a voter who is familiar with terms like ‘COP28,’ ‘heat strokes,’ and ‘global warming’ but not with their impact and severity on our health and daily life, subtly hints at a form of climate denial or resignation.
He said, “The heat changes every year, so what can the government or the Election Commission do? To do one good thing, you often have to compromise in another area, right? If we don’t cut down trees, how will we build roads? How will development occur?”
Some others like Rishi Saxena and his partner attributed the heatwave and climate change to be a global phenomenon, not in the hands of the government. “Indeed we are seeing an early onset of extreme summers. But The issue of global warming and climate change is not confined to India alone. It is happening everywhere, there is nothing that the government or authorities can do about it”, Mrs Saxena said.
Privileged voters often navigate the challenges of extreme heat during election periods more comfortably due to personal resources such as air-conditioned cars and portable shades.
Heatwave over time
India, which is home to 1.4 billion people and is the world’s most populous country, usually experiences heat waves during the summer months of May and June. However, in recent times, these heat waves have begun earlier and lasted longer than usual. Scientists attribute some of these more extended and intense heat waves to the climate crisis.
In 2022, the World Weather Attribution initiative discovered that climate change caused a heat wave, which resulted in the deaths of 90 people across India and Pakistan.
Last year, India was struck by several heat waves, leading to school closures, crop damage, and strains on energy supplies. In June, temperatures in certain regions reached up to 47° C, resulting in the deaths of at least 44 individuals and causing heat-related illnesses in hundreds more.
Anxious to prevent similar tragedies, the Election Commission of India has directed electoral officers in every state to increase awareness about the risks of extreme weather and implement measures to assist voters in dealing with the intense heat.
