Voterology, the study of creating voter awareness and protecting democratic institutions, and voterologism, the dissemination of electoral theories in the electoral system in the country, must be studied as necessary subjects along with Political Science in schools and higher educational institutions, Tamil Nadu Lok Ayukta Member V. Ramaraj, emphasised on Monday, at a seminar on the topic held at Government Arts and Science College, Coimbatore.
“Constitutional education and voterology are two sides of democracy. While Constitutional education explains how government institutions must function to protect democracy, voterology is the true guardian of legislature, executive government and judiciary, for good governance,” Mr. Ramaraj said, emphasising that it is the duty of the State to provide constitutional and electoral education to all citizens.
Political science that once used to be a part of the academic disciplines like History, Philosophy and Sociology emerged as a separate academic discipline only about 125 years ago when democratic governments began to be formed in countries hitherto under monarchies. And, public administration, which was a part of political science, became a separate academic discipline about 75 years ago.
A need has arisen to study and research voterology, the study of votes, voters and elections as a separate academic discipline, Mr. Ramaraj said.
The new academic discipline will bring about social progress, P. Kanagaraj, Head, Department of Political Science, said. Teaching electoral studies has become important in schools, colleges and universities, he said.
Selvaraj, Controller of Examinations, launched the website of the Journal of Voterology and Research (https://jovar.researchpark.in/).
Published – February 16, 2026 07:03 pm IST
