Dip again but gap narrows: 64.5% vote in phase 3, 66% in 2019

NEW DELHI: Voter turnout in the third phase of polling for 93 Lok Sabha seats on Tuesday touched 64.5%, compared with 66% in 2019, as voting for more than half the constituencies for the 543-member lower House was completed.

Like the first two phases, the third round too recorded lower voting percentage compared to 2019 but the gap narrowed significantly.

The numbers for 2019 do not include the data for four seats in Assam, where delimitation has been carried out. In this phase, Assam saw the highest turnout with 81.7%, according to data on the Election Commission ’s voter turnout app as of 11.45pm. The lowest was in 10 seats of Uttar Pradesh, where the turnout was 57.3%, as against 60% in 2019, followed by Bihar (58.2%) and Gujarat (59.2%). Polling was held for all the seats in Gujarat except Surat where the BJP candidate was elected unopposed.

While the four seats in West Bengal saw 75.8% turnout, it was much lower than the 81.7% clocked five years ago.

Poll analysts said the voting percentage in UP and Bihar was the lowest in all three phases. “That’s a matter of concern despite several efforts put by the EC,” said a source. Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Goa saw an increase in turnout in the third phase.

With the conclusion of phase three, polling is now over in 283 parliamentary constituencies across 20 states and UTs. “Though polling was till 6pm, voters were seen in the queue at many polling stations. Voters participated enthusiastically to cast their vote at their polling stations, braving hot weather conditions in some areas,” the EC said. It added the voting was smooth and peaceful. The three phases covered the entire north-east, LWE affected and vulnerable areas in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

Starting with the third phase, the poll panel has commenced a system of SMS alerts, WhatsApp messages and voice calls from national and state icons, with support from major telecom service providers, to encourage voter participation.

EC said the data would be updated by field-level officers as polling parties keep returning and be available PC-wise live on VTR App. “As per the laid down procedure, scrutiny of election papers takes place one day after the polling day in the presence of candidates or their authorised polling agents. The decision to conduct repoll, if any, is also taken thereafter. Some polling parties return after polling day depending on the geographical/ logistical conditions,” it said.

The EC also said that after the scrutiny and depending on the number and schedule of repoll, it will publish the updated voter turnout along with gender-wise breakup by May 11.