The trend of dipping voter count continues in the 2024 LS polls, with the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections held on Tuesday also reporting lesser voters compared to last elections.
The voter turnout covering 93 constituencies across 11 states and Union Territories was 64.4 per cent, according to the figures available at 11.40 pm. In 2019, these constituencies had recorded a turnout of 67.33 per cent.
In the first phase, when 102 constituencies went to polls, the final turnout was 66.14 per cent, a drop of just under 4 percentage points as compared to 2019. In the second phase, in which 88 seats voted, the final turnout was 66.71 per cent, a drop of about 3 percentage points from 2019.
According to the EC’s Voter Turnout app, Assam, where four seats went to polls, reported the highest turnout at 81.61 per cent.
The lowest turnout of 57.34 per cent was recorded in Uttar Pradesh (10 constituencies). In 2019, the same constituencies in Uttar Pradesh saw 60.01 per cent polling.
Bihar, where five constituencies went to polls, recorded 58.18 per cent.
Maharashtra (11 constituencies) recorded 61.44 per cent polling.
Polling also came to an end in Gujarat, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Karnataka, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu on Tuesday. In the first two phases, polling was completed in 14 states and Union territories.
Among the other states, Chhattisgarh (7 constituencies) recorded 71.06 per cent turnout, Goa (2 constituencies) 75.20 per cent, and Karnataka (14 constituencies) 70.41 per cent.
Starting with the third phase, the EC put out the aggregate turnout on its Voter Turnout app, which had state-wise and seat-wise figures in the first two phases. This comes after the poll panel faced criticism for the delay in releasing the final turnout data for the first two phases and not making public the total number of electors and voters.
In an apparent reference to the criticism, the EC said in a statement: “As per statutory requirements, voter turnout is to be recorded at every polling station in absolute numbers in Form 17C, which prevails. As an embedded measure of transparency, the copies of Form 17C, duly signed by presiding officer and all present polling agents, are invariably shared with all present polling agents of contesting candidates. Thus, booth-wise data of actual number of votes polled is always available with the candidates, which is a statutory requirement.”
It said the voter turnout, with the gender-wise break-up, would be published by May 11, after scrutiny of the records and taking into account any repolls.
The EC also released the constituency-wise data of electors, not including “service voters”, for the first three phases “as a further measure of enhanced transparency”.
58.9% Polling In Gujarat
Gujarat, where 25 of its total 26 constituencies voted (the BJP won Surat unopposed), saw 58.98 per cent polling. In 2019, Gujarat had recorded 64.5 per cent turnout.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were among those who exercised their franchise in Gujarat. While Modi cast his vote at a polling booth in Gandhinagar constituency, Shah voted at a polling booth in Ahmedabad.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, along with his son Anuj Patel also cast their vote at a booth in the state capital.
Cricketer Ravindra Jadeja with wife Rivaba cast vote in Jamnagar.
