Lok Sabha polls: Rajasthan registers historic 63% voter turnout this election season

JAIPUR: Breaking previous records, Rajasthan registered a historic voter turnout of 63 per cent, a 15 per cent increase from last parliamentary elections, in both phases of the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

63.02 per cent of total 4,29,94,384 voters, including two crore females, cast their votes in both phases of polling on April 17 and 24.

Ganganagar recorded the highest turnout of 72.85 per cent, 11 per cent higher than the figures of 2009 polls, followed by Barmer where 72.43 per cent voters exercised their franchise, according to the chief election office.

In Barmer, where expelled BJP leader Jaswant Singh is contesting as an Independent candidate, the turnout shot up 17 per cent.

Banswara, Jhalawar Baran, Ajmer and Jaipur recorded 68.82, 68.66, 68.65 and 66.08 per cent turnout respectively.

Karauli-Dholpur is the constituency with lowest voter turnout at 54.70 per cent.

Jalore constituency recorded the maximum increase of 21 per cent in turnout as compared to the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.

Female voter turnout, which was 44.85 per cent in 2009, also increased by 16 per cent to 61.23 per cent.

Women voter turnout was highest in Barmer with 71.78 per cent followed by Banswara at 71.03 per cent, whereas Karauli-Dholpur registered the lowest turnout where only 50.39 per cent of female voters exercised their right.

"This all increase could happen due to extensive efforts under Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP)," Chief Election Officer Ashok Jain said.

24 out of total 25 constituencies saw increase in voter turnout except Dausa where there it decreased by 2.8 per cent.

Dausa recorded 61 per cent polling this time against 63.98 of 2009-Lok Sabha polls.

A total of 320 candidates including 27 women contested the elections on 25 constituencies in the two phases of polls in the state.