New Delhi: The Election Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, convened a conference in New Delhi on Friday, April 5, 2024, to address the issue of low voter turnout ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
During the conference, the Election Commission announced its identification of 266 parliamentary constituencies, comprising 215 rural and 51 urban areas, characterized by low voter turnout. In response, targeted interventions are being planned to enhance voter participation in these Lok Sabha polls.
Key officials, including municipal commissioners from major cities and select district election officers (DEOs) from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, deliberated on strategies to increase voter engagement and turnout, particularly in the identified urban and rural constituencies.
The Election Commission highlighted that eleven states and union territories, namely Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Telangana, Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, and Jharkhand, witnessed a lower voter turnout than the national average of 67.40 percent during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar emphasized the need for tailored approaches, stating that a ‘one size fits all’ strategy would be inadequate. He emphasized the importance of devising distinct strategies for various regions and demographic segments to address the issue effectively.
The seven-phased Lok Sabha polls are scheduled to commence on April 19, marking a crucial juncture in India’s democratic process.
