The News Freedom
New Delhi, April 19
With a tentative figure exceeding 60 percent, voter turnout across 21 states and Union Territories as of 7 p.m. in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections on Friday demonstrated a robust engagement in the electoral process, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced in a late evening statement.
“The voting percentage is likely to rise as reports from all polling stations are compiled, given that polling continued till 6 p.m. in many constituencies. Additionally, voters arriving at polling stations until the end of the polling hour were permitted to cast their votes. Final figures will be available tomorrow following the scrutiny of Form 17A,” the ECI said. Despite challenging conditions including a heat wave, the ECI reported a notably high voter turnout during the first phase of the 2024 General Elections. The ECI commended the peaceful conduct of polling, highlighting the enthusiastic participation of voters from diverse backgrounds as a testament to civic responsibility and pride.
Phase 1 of the General Elections 2024 witnessed the completion of polling in 10 States and Union Territories, including the election of the 18th Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. The ECI expressed gratitude to the voters of Phase 1 and the entire electoral machinery for their participation and efforts.
Under the leadership of Chief Election Commissioner(CEC) Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, the ECI closely monitored polling progress across constituencies from its headquarters at Nirvachan Sadan. State-of-the-art control rooms were established at both the central and regional levels for effective oversight.
Amidst a predominantly peaceful and conducive environment, the electorate showcased democracy in action across the nation, from bustling urban centers to remote villages. Polling stations witnessed a vibrant convergence of voters across generations and backgrounds, facilitated by meticulous planning and execution by the Commission and its officials.
The ECI said in a bid to enhance participation in tribal areas, communities in Left Wing Extremist (LWE)-affected regions of Chhattisgarh embraced the ballot over violence, fostering peace and democracy. Notably, 56 villages in Bastar hosted polling booths within their communities for the first time in a Lok Sabha Election. Instances of innovative facilitation were observed, such as medical facilities provided at a Model Polling Station in PC-163 in Bijapur, and the use of local tribal dialects to convey information at a booth in Hemalkasa, Gadchiroli-Chimur, Maharashtra.
Giving details, the ECI further said that voter enthusiasm was evident across various regions, with tribal communities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Mizoram turning out in significant numbers. The Shompen tribe of Great Nicobar made history by participating in the General Elections for the first time. Additionally, heartwarming stories emerged, including an elderly couple reaffirming their commitment to vote together in Mizoram and an elderly woman trekking to a Polling Station in Arunachal Pradesh despite having the option of home voting.
Voters demonstrated resilience in the face of adverse weather conditions, with some enduring scorching heat while others patiently waited in pouring rain. The Assured Minimum Facilities provided by the ECI at every polling station played a crucial role in supporting voters throughout the process.
Amidst the electoral fervor, voters adorned in colorful attire celebrated their participation, proudly displaying selfies with inked fingers as a symbol of their civic duty fulfilled.
In the context of the seven-phase General Elections 2024, 102 Parliamentary Constituencies across 21 States/UTs went to polls on the specified day. States including Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tamil Nadu, and the Union Territories of Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep successfully completed their voting processes. The Election Commission reiterated its commitment to ensuring a smooth, transparent, and inclusive electoral process in the subsequent phases of the General Elections 2024.
108-year-old elector came to the polling station to cast her vote and be part of the festival of Democracy in Cooch Behar district, West Bengal.#ChunavKaParv #DeskKaGarv #Election2024 #IVote4Sure@ECISVEEP@SpokespersonECI@rajivkumarec@anuj_chandak@deocoochbehar pic.twitter.com/wDWEQSqoID
— CEO West Bengal (@CEOWestBengal) April 19, 2024