The voter turnout in the second phase of elections was sharply higher than in the first phase, which had seen 66.75% polling.
The second phase of Gujarat elections recorded 69.99 per cent voter turnout, officials said on Friday, a day after 93 seats in north and central Gujarat went to polls. At the close of polling, election authorities had estimated the turnout at 68.70%, which was revised to 69.99% after the exact numbers were compiled.
The voter turnout in the second phase of elections was sharply higher than in the first phase, which had seen 66.75% polling.
"The overall turnout in both phases of Gujarat Assembly elections is 68.41 per cent. Of 4.35 crore registered voters, 2.98 crore voters exercised their right to vote," State's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) BB Swain, said.
In spite of the sharp rise in voting in the second phase of polling, overall turnout in the current election was over 3.5 per cent lower than the 72.02 per cent turnout in 2012 elections. Even as exit polls are projecting a huge win for the ruling BJP, and placing Congress a distant second, the lower turnout could be attributed to absence of a clear wave.
An analysis of the voter turnout statistics released by the CEO's office reveals that of 2.23 crore registered voters in the second phase, a little over 1.56 crore voters exercised their right to vote. The male turnout was 72.05%, and female turnout was 67.77 per cent. About 45 per cent of the 455 third genders cast their votes.
Eight of 14 districts that went to polls on Thursday recorded more than 70 per cent polling. The highest voter turnout was in Banaskantha where 75.25 pe cent voters exercised their right. It was followed by Sabarkantha (74.97 per cent turnout), Vadodara (72.08 per cent), Mehsana (71.69 per cent) and Anand (71.50 per cent).
Ahmedabad, which comprises 21 Assembly seats in all, recorded 66.28 per cent voter turnout. Of 52.75 lakh registered voters, 34.96 lakh cast their votes.
Contrary to the trend seen in the first phase, as well as in the past elections, where tribal dominated districts accounted for the highest turnout, such districts witnessed among the lowest turnouts in the second phase.
The lowest turnout was recorded in Mahisagar where only 65.45 per cent voters turned up to vote. It was followed by Dahod district, which recorded 66.20 per cent polling.
Turnout
Phase 1: 65.75%
Voters: 2,12,31,652
Votes: 1,41,71,717
Male turnout: 68.98%
Female turnout: 64.30%
Phase 2: 69.99%
Voters: 2,22,96,867
Votes: 1,56,05,196
Male turnout: 72.05%
Female turnout: 67.77%
Combined: 68.41%
Voters: 4,35,28,519
Votes: 2,97,76,913
Male turnout: 70.54%
Female turnout: 66.09%
Phase 2
Highest Turnout
District Turnout (%)
Banaskantha 75.25
Sabarkantha 74.97
Vadodara 72.08
Mehsana 71.69
Anand 71.50
Lowest Turnout
District Turnout (%)
Mahisagar 65.45
Dahod 66.20
Ahmedabad 66.28
Patan 68.82
Aravalli 69.19
(Source: Gujarat CEO)
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