EC pushes for more turnout of female voters in LS polls

PUNE: The Election Commission of India (EC) has emphasized on increasing the turnout of woman voters in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

As part of its Systematic Voters’ Education Programme, the EC has told the officials to encourage more women to vote and increase their percentage in the final tally.



The summary roll has listed a rise of women voters in the state by 13 lakh this time. The list revealed that the state has 4.57 crore male voters and 4.16 crore female voters. The voter sex ratio in 2019 is 911as against 905 in 2014.

“The registration of woman voters was less in the past. Following an improved awareness, we have ensured registration of more women as voters. The focus should now be to ensure an impressive turnout of woman voters during the elections,’’an election official said.

A study was conducted by city-based Gokhale Institute of Economics and Politics in 2017 for the corporation elections in Pune and Mumbai. Manasi V Phadke, a key researcher of the study, said, “We had then also said that there was a need for the administration to engage with woman voters and involve them in the scenario.’’ Rajeshwari Deshpande, who teaches politics at Savitribai Phule Pune University, said, “Political parties should ensure a stronger representation of women. There are many local woman leaders, but they hardly get a chance to contest the LS or assembly elections.”