2024 ОНЫ СОНГУУЛЬД ЭСЭРГҮҮЦЭХ САНАЛЫН ҮЗҮҮЛСЭН НӨЛӨӨ: УИХ БА НИТХ-ЫН СОНГУУЛИЙН БАЯНГОЛ, БАЯНЗҮРХ ДҮҮРГИЙН САНАЛ ХУРААЛТЫН ДҮНД ХИЙСЭН ШИНЖИЛГЭЭ

Abstract

In the 2024 local elections, political parties and candidates attributed the low voter turnout in the capital to voters' lack of motivation and engagement, often describing them as apathetic and lazy during post-election press conferences. However, it is crucial that political parties analyze the election results accurately and use the insights to improve their operations. This study investigates whether voter apathy truly explains the low turnout in the capital during the 2024 local elections, or if other factors were at play. The hypothesis explored in this article is that protest votes—expressing dissatisfaction with political parties and coalitions—significantly influenced both the election results and voter turnout. To examine this, a comparative analysis of voting results from the 2020 and 2024 parliamentary (UIKh) and city council (NITKh) elections in Bayangol and Bayanzurkh districts was conducted. The study finds that voters may express discontent with the ruling party or prominent parties by leaving ballots blank or voting for candidates from third parties or coalitions. In some cases, abstention from voting may also serve as a form of protest, a possibility this article explores in detail.