UDF, LDF blame stretched voting process, lack of trained o cials for low voter turnout
In Ernakulam, the nal voting percentage was 68.29% against 73.59% in 2019; in Chalakudy it was 71.94% against 80.4% registered in 2019
Several factors, including lack of experience among a section of polling o cials, technical glitches in electronic voting machines, and voter apathy, have been attributed to the drop in polling percentage in Chalakudy and Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituencies, according to an assessment by key fronts.
The United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) echoed almost similar views on the fall in voter turnout compared to the 2019 General Elections. As per the nal gures released by the Election Commission on Saturday, Chalakudy recorded a total polling percentage of 71.94% as against 80.4% registered in 2019. In Ernakulam, the nal voting percentage was 68.29% as against 73.59% in 2019.
“There was an unusual delay in the voting process in many booths. Several voters had to stand at least one to two hours in the queue to cast votes in the Chalakudy constituency. The lack of experience in handling the voting process was evident among a section of polling o cials,” said Mohammed Shiyas, president of the Ernakulam District Congress Committee. “The delay in rectifying technical glitches in electronic voting machines and errors in the voters’ list may have reected in the slight drop in turnout,” he said.
C.N. Mohanan, Ernakulam district secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), said the appointment of o cials who lacked prior experience in conducting the voting process had resulted in delay in select booths. “Those who left after waiting for long in queues did not return to cast votes,” he said.