The Election Commission of India recently announced some significant statistics regarding the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. According to the commission, there are nearly 986.8 million Indian voters eligible to cast their ballots this year. What’s even more noteworthy is that the voter list now includes approximately two crore young voters aged between 18 and 29.
Since the last Lok Sabha elections in 2019, there has been a noticeable six per cent increase in the number of registered voters, showcasing the growing participation of citizens in the democratic process.
The Election Commission proudly declared that India boasts the largest electorate in the world for the upcoming Lok Sabha. Moreover, the gender ratio in the voter list has seen improvement, rising from 940 in 2023 to 948 in 2024.
The Commission emphasized its commitment to maintaining the integrity and health of the electoral roll, ensuring transparency and openness throughout the revision process. Special attention has been given to engaging the younger population, with the establishment of Special Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) at the constituency level to facilitate youth enrolment directly from educational institutions.
Efforts have also been directed towards assisting voters with disabilities (PwD) by identifying around 8.835 million PwD voters in the electoral roll database, guaranteeing accessibility and inclusiveness on election day.
In a bid to ensure the utmost inclusivity, special measures have been taken to register all Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) in the electoral rolls.
Rajiv Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), elaborated on the various tasks involved in updating the electoral rolls during a press conference in Pune, highlighting the active involvement of political parties at each step of the process.
These initiatives underscore the Election Commission’s dedication to fostering a robust and inclusive electoral system that reflects the diverse voices and aspirations of the Indian populace.
Dhairya Saraswat