The Election Commission of India (ECI) appealed to voters in Gujarat to come out in “large numbers” during the second phase of local assembly elections in the state to “compensate” for the low turnout in the first phase.
The ECI made this announcement after observing that after the conclusion of the first phase of the Gujarat Assembly elections, the state recorded a relatively low average voter turnout of 63.31 per cent in 89 seats. This was lower than the 66.75 per cent recorded in the first phase of the 2017 state elections with the same constituencies.
“Urban apathy continues unabated from Shimla to Surat,” Election Commission of India DG Shefali Sharan said in a Twitter post. ECI appeals to Gujarat voters to come out in large numbers during Phase II to make up for the low turnout in Phase I can be compensated for.” ,
Voting was held on December 1, 2022, for the first phase in 19 districts of Saurashtra, Kutch and South Gujarat. The fate of 788 candidates was sealed in the Electronic Voting Machine.
More than 70 percent polling was recorded in 14 seats. Dediapada in Narmada district recorded the highest polling of 82.71 per cent, followed by Kaprada in Valsad district at 79.57 per cent. Gandhidham seat in Kutch district recorded the lowest voter turnout of 47.86 per cent.
District-wise, tribal-dominated Narmada district recorded the highest average turnout of 78.24 per cent, followed by Tapi at 76.91 per cent. The Election Commission said Navsari district recorded an average polling of 71.06 per cent.
Botad district recorded the lowest average polling of 57.58 per cent. Amreli followed closely behind with 57.59 per cent polling. Surat district recorded 62.27 percent polling and Rajkot 60.45 percent.
In 2017, the final voting percentage (for both the phases of the election) was 68.41 per cent.
Elections for the remaining 93 seats with 833 candidates in the second phase of 2022 will be held on December 5 and the counting of votes will take place on December 8.
A total of 26,269 ballot units, 25,430 control units and 25,430 VVPATs were used.
