Telangana Polls: Long working hours, deadline pressures deter IT employees from voting

Hyderabad: In the polling for the Telangana Assembly Elections 2023 held on Thursday, a noticeable trend emerged as a significant portion of the IT sector employees seem to have opted to abstain from casting votes.

Though the combined strength of the IT industry electorate reached 28,93,500 voters, according to initial reports, a majority of them may not have turned up at the polling booths.

Despite the importance of active civic participation, especially in a democratic process like elections, a substantial number of professionals from the IT industry may have chosen to stay away from the polling booths.

The IT sector, known for its dynamic and tech-savvy workforce, plays a crucial role in shaping the economic landscape of Telangana. However, the lower-than-expected voter turnout among employees in this sector raises questions about the factors influencing their decision to abstain from exercising their democratic right.

Lakshmi Reddy, a resident of Manikonda says, “I vote every time there’s an election. But this time I had to stay away as my husband was out of town, and I could not travel to my native place with the kid though it was work from home, because the next day, my kid has to go to school. So rather than stressing out myself, I chose to stay unhappy, and in Hyderabad only.”

Stressful jobs in the industry

Several possible reasons contribute to this phenomenon. Firstly, the demanding nature of IT jobs often leads to long working hours and high-stress levels. The hectic schedules and work pressures may have deterred many employees from taking the time to participate in the electoral process.

“I stay in Hyderabad and my parents have moved here from the native place. I understand the importance of voting but all of us travel just to vote, and the amount of stress it gives, as we have to return to work the next, sometimes feels unnecessary,” said Shiva, who works as an IT manager in an MNC here.

Work from home and its effects

Another factor to consider is the widespread adoption of remote work, accelerated by the global pandemic. As many IT employees continue to work from home, their physical disconnection from the traditional workplace environment may have played a role in their reduced engagement with local political events, including elections.

Efforts to address this issue could involve targeted awareness campaigns within the IT sector, emphasising the significance of civic participation and the impact of local governance on their lives. Encouraging a sense of responsibility among employees to contribute to the electoral process might help improve future voter turnouts.

Some voters found a way

Kiran Varma says he chose to vote no matter how far he had to travel. He says, “I work in Bangalore but chose to come to Hyderabad to cast my vote. I will be staying here over the weekend and will go back on Sunday. Future matters. So, I chose to come here to vote. A few of my friends here also gave their vote and they were asked to work the night shift.”

It is essential to recognise the influence the IT sector wields in shaping the future of Telangana and to work towards fostering a sense of civic duty among its professionals. By addressing the challenges faced by IT employees and implementing initiatives to enhance voter awareness, the hope is to witness increased participation from this crucial demographic in future elections.