More men voted in LS polls than women: EC

DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand witnessed a reversal in the voting trend of women in this Lok Sabha elections compared to the last two Lok Sabha elections, when women had voted more than male voters. This time, of 4,772,485 people who voted, 2,416,748 were men while 2,355,649 were women, according to EVM votes data by office of state chief electoral officer. At least 87 third gender votes were also reported.

The voter turnout in the state, which went to polling in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 19, was 57.24%. Of the total turnout (excluding postal ballot), the percentage of women voters was 49.35%, while those of men was 50.63%. In the 2019 polls, the voting percentage of women was 64.3% compared to 58.8% for men. In 2014 polls, the voting percentage of women was 63.05% as compared to 61.34% men votes.

Of the five seats in the state, women have voted more than men only in Almora-Pithoragarh and Garhwal seats in this Lok Sabha elections. In Garhwal constituency, women votes exceeded those of the men by 41,840, while in Almora-Pithoragarh seat the corresponding figure stood at 42,862.

In Haridwar seat, 86,844 more male voters were recorded, followed by Nainital-US Nagar seat, which reported 52,373 more male voters. Tehri Lok Sabha seat recorded 6,270 more male voters.

In 2019 polls, though the overall percentage of women voters was more, more men had voted compared to women in Nainital and Haridwar seats. Haridwar seat had reported 77,765 more votes cast by men, while in the Nainital-US Nagar seat 46,069 more men had voted compared to women.

In Garhwal seat, women voters outnumbered male voters by 60,754, while the Almora-Pithoragarh seat recorded 59,800 more women voters.

In Tehri Garhwal seat, women voters had outnumbered male voters by 7,689.

Women have traditionally been a significant political force in the elections in the state. Of the four Lok Sabha polls held in the state since the formation of the state in 2000, the voting percentage of women has been higher than that of men during the last two elections.

Of the five assembly polls held in the state so far, the voting percentage of women has been higher in the last four, compared to that of men.

In the 2022 assembly polls, which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had swept, the voting percentage of women (67.2%) was higher than those of men (62.37 %). In the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, of the Uttarakhand’s over 8.3 million people eligible to vote, there were 4 million women and 4.3 million men voters.

Anoop Nautiyal, Dehradunbased social activist and political observer, said: “Apart from the likely and troubling impact of ever-increasing migration, the lower percentage of women voters in this Lok Sabha elections could indicate voter apathy as well as a lack of targeted outreach and education programmes aimed at women. This points to potential barriers such as the limited spread of information or logistical challenges.”

“Besides, it might also reflect broader issues regarding gender equality and women’s empowerment, highlighting the need for policies that are able to identify and address existing socio-political disparities,” he said.

“The widespread voter disinterest in polling, including the lower turnout among women voters, rings a warning bell for political parties, who must not take women voters for granted.

This should serve as a wake-up call for governments and parties to raise the bar and deliver improved services and higher levels of governance to women voters in Uttarakhand,” he added.

Political expert Prof MM Semwal, who teaches political science at Garhwal University, said the recent trend is concerning and poses a challenge to the strength of democracy. “Collectively, the state of Uttarakhand this year has fared lower than the 2019 general elections in the aggregate voter turnout. Particularly in the case of female voters, the numbers are not impressive either. Out of the five seats, more women have voted than men only in the Almora and Garhwal constituencies.”

“The significant discrepancy in voter turnout between the constituencies of the hills and the plains can be attributed directly to migration. The constituencies of Garhwal and Almora have witnessed some of the highest migration numbers in the past. With primarily male members migrating outside, a significant population of females is left behind which was reflected in the higher voter turnout on their part in these areas,” he said.

He pointed out that the hilly areas constitute a significantly aging population that has not yet migrated to the plains. “Out of this, the percentage of women is higher. As far as female voters are concerned, the challenging terrain of the hills could be an additional reason for the elderly population unable to go to polling stations.

With the paucity of public transport in the hilly region, especially during the day of voting, the voter turnout was bound to fall”, he said, adding that the “non-political, yet highly relevant, reason could also be the overlap of voting period coinciding with the peak of Hindu wedding season”.