The key to a political party’s rise to power by the 13th National Parliamentary Elections now lies in the hands of young voters.
A data analysis shows that some three crore voters are in the 18-29 age group who will play a pivotal role in the elections. Hence, the parties will focus on the huge number of voters.
According to the Election Commission’s (EC) records up to January 29, there are two crore 99 lakh 41 thousand and 973 voters in the country aged 18 to 29. Among them are 1 crore 34 lakh 68 thousand and 141 women, 1 crore 64 lakh 73 thousand and 252 men, and 580 hijras.
Additionally, to include those left out and those born on January 1, 2008, the EC has collected information on 49 lakh 76 thousand 845 individuals up to last Monday. Moreover, the EC published the draft voter list on January 2 last year, which added 18 lakh 33 thousand and 352 new names, bringing the total voter count to 12 crore 36 lakh 83 thousand and 512. The EC will publish the final list on March 2.
According to the EC, there are 71 lakh 99 thousand and 707 voters aged 18 to 21. One crore 11 lakh 53 thousand and 183 voters aged 22 to 25. One crore 15 lakh 89 thousand and 083 voters aged 26 to 29. In addition, there are one crore 6 lakh 47 thousand and 441 voters aged 30 to 33. One crore 40 lakh 22 thousand and 294 voters aged 34 to 37. 1 crore 20 lakh 43 thousand and 292 voters aged 38 to 41. One crore 21 lakh 67 thousand and 949 voters aged 42 to 45. 91 lakh 62 thousand and 556 voters aged 46 to 49. 77 lakh 94 thousand and 440 voters aged 50 to 53. 80 lakh 98 thousand and 286 voters aged 54 to 57. There are 32 lakh 90 thousand and 656 voters between the ages of 58 and 60 and two crore 51 lakh 11 thousand and 054 voters above the age of 60.
Before the ninth National Parliamentary Elections there were some eight crore 10 lakh 87 thousand and three voters.
Voter update: The EC has amassed information on nearly half a crore citizens, including those aged 17 and eligible to vote, in the voter list update this time. In addition, information on more than 15 lakh deceased voters who will be excluded from the existing list has been collected.
EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed shared the information at a briefing at the Election Building on Tuesday. He said, “The increase in voters among those who were excluded (those who could not vote in the past) till Monday is 2.44 percent and the increase in new voters (those who will be eighteen years of age or eligible to vote on January 1 next year) is 1.45 percent. The total increase in voters is 4 percent.”
According to EC data, information on 49 lakh 76 thousand 845 people has been collected in the ongoing voter update program, although the target was 61 lakh 89 thousand 375.
Data collection statistics: Excluded voters - 31 lakh 27 thousand 519 people. Of these, 1,464,380 are male, 1,662,992 are female and 147 are hijras. New voters - 18 lakh 49 thousand 326. Of these, nine lakh 53 thousand and 312 are male; 8 lakh 95 thousand and 776 are female and 238 are hijras.
Deduction of deceased voters - 15 lakh 27 thousand 424. Of these, 8 lakh 73 thousand and 429 are male; 6 lakh 53 thousand and 409 are female and 588 are hijras. The EC started the work of collecting information to update the voter list by going door to door on January 20. After collecting information on Monday, the work of taking photographs, fingerprints and iris images of the eyes will start on Wednesday, and will continue until April 11. During this period, those who were excluded can go to the local registration center and become voters.
Translated by Afsar Munna
