New Delhi. The third phase of voting on 93 seats for the Lok Sabha elections was completed peacefully on Tuesday. During this period, about 64.5% voting was recorded. Earlier in the year 2019 Lok Sabha elections, 66% voting was recorded. Like the first two phases, the third round also recorded a lower voting percentage than 2019, but the difference narrowed considerably.
With the conclusion of the third phase, voting has now ended in 283 parliamentary constituencies of 20 states and union territories. Election analysts say that the voting percentage was lowest in UP and Bihar in all three phases. However, in the third phase, an increase in voting percentage was seen in Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Goa. This is being considered as a matter of some relief for the Election Commission.
The figures for the year 2019 do not include the data of four seats in Assam, where delimitation has been done. According to the data till 11.45 pm on the Election Commission’s Voter Turnout App, Assam recorded the highest turnout in this phase with 81.7%. The least voting took place in 10 seats of Uttar Pradesh, where voting was 57.3% as against 60% in 2019. This was followed by Bihar (58.2%) and Gujarat (59.2%). Voting took place on all seats in Gujarat except Surat. BJP candidate was elected unopposed on Surat seat. While 75.8% voting took place across four seats in West Bengal, it was much lower than the 81.7% voter turnout five years ago.
The EC said, ‘Although voting was till 6 pm, voters were seen in queues at many polling stations. ‘Braving hot weather conditions in some areas, voters enthusiastically participated at their polling stations to cast their votes.’ It said that voting was smooth and peaceful. The three phases covered the entire Left Wing Extremism affected and sensitive areas in North-East, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
Starting from the third phase, the poll panel has introduced a system of SMS alerts, WhatsApp messages and voice calls from national and state icons, with the support of major telecom service providers, to encourage voter participation.
The Election Commission said the data will be updated by field-level officials as polling teams continue to return and will be available PC-wise live on the VTR app. The Commission said, ‘As per the prescribed procedure, the scrutiny of election papers is done in the presence of the candidates or their authorized polling agents a day after the polling day. The decision to conduct re-poll, if any, is also taken thereafter. Some polling parties return after the polling day depending on geographical/material conditions.
The Election Commission also said that after investigation and based on the numbers and schedule of re-polling, it will publish updated voter turnout with gender-wise details by May 11.
Tags: Loksabha Election 2024, Loksabha Elections
FIRST PUBLISHED: May 8, 2024, 07:05 IST