Electoral rolls up by 67L in 5 yrs; 21 lakh new voters since LS polls

The state electorate has grown by nearly 67 lakh, reaching almost 9.65 crore voters in 2024, up from 8.98 crore in 2019. This includes 4.98 crore male and 4.67 crore female voters. Aggressive door-to-door registration efforts, college campaigns, and a well-functioning online voter registration system contributed to a surge in female voters and first-time voters aged 18-19.Notably, the state has 20.93 lakh more voters than during the May Lok Sabha election.
Chandrakant Bhujbal, an analyst from the Political Research and Analysis Bureau, highlighted the significant increase in youth and female voters, noting that their participation could shape the upcoming election. Pointing out that voter registration saw a marked rise following the Lok Sabha election, he said, "Compared to the rural areas, there is an increase in the number of voters in urban areas. The trend and role of the newly included electorate will be important in the assembly poll. The increase is substantial compared to 2019," he said. "The high registration rates among both these groups, particularly in urban areas, along with polling booths set up in housing societies, could lead to an increased voter turnout, which may prove decisive."
State election officials said self-help groups, anganwadi workers, and housing societies played a key role in boosting women's registrations, improving the gender ratio on the electoral roll, which has increased from 914 to 936, a 22-point rise between 2019 and 2024.
"Voter numbers will continue to grow, as registrations are open until ten days before the last date of nominations," a senior official from the chief electoral office said. A one-month summary revision drive in Aug helped boost voter registrations from 9.3 crore on Aug 6 to 9.5 crore by the end of the month. Notably, more women (10 lakh) registered during this period than men (6.8 lakh), though the final tally still shows more male than female voters. Demographer Anjali Radkar from the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics told TOI that the higher registration of women voters is due to door-to-door checks conducted before both the Lok Sabha and assembly elections. "There must be a check on inflated voter lists, migration of voters from the state and duplication. Inclusivity and awareness could be the reason for the gender ratio improving."
Election officials also reported a notable increase in younger voters, with 3.7 lakh voters aged 18-19 and almost 7.6 lakh in the 20-29 age group added in Aug alone. Additional chief electoral officer Kiran Kulkarni told TOI, "Voters can keep registering until ten days before the last date for assembly election nominations. Registrations are expected to rise further."