Plain districts of U’khand take lead over mountainous districts in voter turnout
Sunday, 14 APRIL 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The voter turnout in the plain districts of Uttarakhand has always remained higher than the mountainous districts in the past elections held in the State. In the Lok Sabha elections held in the year 2019, a total of 47,75,749 out of 77,65,423 voters exercised their franchise in the State. The data of the Election Commission shows that 61.50 per cent of the electorate in the State came out to vote in LS elections- 2019 which was less than national average ( 67.40 per cent).
Haridwar with a voting percentage of 72.11 was at the top in the list of districts in the State in LS -2019. Here 9,58,775 out of 13,29,537 voters exercised their franchise. Haridwar was closely followed by Udham Singh Nagar, another district located in the plains of the State where 71.65 per cent people voted. Udham Singh Nagar district is followed by Nainital district in the list. Here 63.67 per cent voter turnout was reported in LS 2019. Haldwani and nearby areas located in plain are part of Nainital district. In capital Dehradun, 61.22 per cent voter turnout was reported.
The mountainous district of Almora reported least voter turnout in LS elections of 2019. Here only 47.75 per cent of people turned out to vote on the polling day. The low voter turnout was also reported in mountainous districts of Tehri ( 49.32 per cent), Pauri ( 50.88 per cent), Pithoragarh ( 52.09 per cent) and Rudraprayag (54.21 per cent).
The experts blame migration as the reason for low voting percentage. They point out that there is a big population of people who don’t reside in the villages as they have migrated to cities in search of jobs but they are still registered in the voter list or prefer to remain in electoral rolls of their native places for many reasons. These people remain absent on the day of voting thus pulling down the vote percentage.
“There are many people in our village who are working and living in cities like Delhi and Dehradun but are in electoral rolls here. On the day of voting some of them turn up for voting but normally majority of them stay away,’’ said Vinod Rawat of Malai village of Pauri.
The election commission has taken a target of ensuring 75 per cent voter turnout in the LS elections of 2024. The EC has set a target of 82.89 per cent for Haridwar district, 82.43 per cent for Udham Singh Nagar, 74.78 per cent for Dehradun and 76.51 per cent for Nainital district in LS -2024.
The chief electoral officer of Uttarakhand, BVRC Purushottam said efforts are being made to increase the turnout to 75 per cent in this Lok Sabha election.
