The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): The Election Commission of India (ECI) has released the absolute number of voters for all completed phases of the ongoing general elections, further strengthening its commitment to transparency and the integrity of the electoral process. The move comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s observations and verdict on the process of releasing turnout data by the ECI.
In a press release dated May 25, 2024, the ECI reiterated that nobody can change the data of votes polled, which is shared on poll day with polling agents of all candidates through Form 17C. This form, available distinctively for each of the approximately 10.5 lakh polling stations across 543 Parliamentary Constituencies, ensures that the total number of votes polled in a constituency can never be altered, even hypothetically, as it is available with all contesting candidates.
The ECI also clarified that voter turnout data has always been available 24×7 on the facilitative Voter Turnout App from 9:30 am on the poll day of each phase. The app publishes estimated voter turnout on a two-hourly basis until 5:30 pm. After 7:00 pm, when polling parties start arriving, the data is continuously updated, with the best estimated “Close of Poll” data in percentage form being available by midnight on the poll day.
The Commission acknowledged that the issue of press notes is just another additional facilitative measure, while full data is always available on the Voter Turnout App. In recent facilitative measures, the ECI has upgraded its Voter Turnout App from phase 3 onwards to include aggregate phase-wise turnout figures, enabled a screenshot feature in the Android version, started releasing constituency-wise elector data, and began issuing a third press note for each phase on P+4 day when re-polls, if any, have also been concluded.
Delving deeper into the data, we observe that the voter turnout percentages have remained relatively consistent across the five phases, with Phase 4 recording the highest turnout at 69.16% and Phase 5 the lowest at 62.20%. This consistency suggests that the enthusiasm and commitment of voters have been sustained throughout the election period, despite the challenges posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
However, beneath the overall consistency lie fascinating regional variations that offer a glimpse into the diverse political dynamics at play across the country. In the northeastern state of Assam, for instance, the Dhubri constituency in Phase 3 witnessed an extraordinary turnout of 92.08%, while the Karimganj constituency in Phase 2 recorded a turnout of 80.48%. These figures stand in stark contrast to the turnout in Nagaland, which stood at 57.72% in Phase 1.
Moving southward, the state of Andhra Pradesh presents a picture of consistently high voter turnout. In Phase 4, the Bapatla constituency recorded an impressive 85.48% turnout, while the Chittoor constituency saw 85.77% of its electorate exercise their democratic right. This high level of participation in Andhra Pradesh is a reflection of the state’s vibrant political culture and the keen contest between the ruling and opposition parties.
In the western state of Gujarat, the voter turnout in Phase 3 paints a mixed picture. While constituencies like Valsad and Chhota Udaipur recorded turnouts of 72.71% and 69.15%, respectively, others like Porbandar and Amreli saw comparatively lower participation at 51.83% and 50.29%. These variations could be attributed to factors such as local political dynamics, the effectiveness of voter mobilization efforts, and the socio-economic conditions prevailing in these constituencies.
The heartland states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which account for a significant portion of the Lok Sabha seats, present an interesting contrast. In Bihar, the average voter turnout across Phases 1, 2, 3, and 5 stands at 57.66%, with the highest turnout recorded in the Supaul constituency in Phase 3 at 63.55%. Uttar Pradesh, on the other hand, has seen an average turnout of 57.74% across Phases 1, 2, 3, and 4, with the Mohanlalganj constituency in Phase 5 recording the highest turnout at 62.88%.
The data from West Bengal, a state known for its high-voltage political contests, reveals a consistently high voter turnout across all five phases. The average turnout in the state stands at an impressive 79.24%, with the Dhubri constituency in Phase 3 recording the highest turnout at 92.08%. This high level of participation is a reflection of the intense political competition and the deep-rooted democratic traditions of the state.
