SHILLONG: The Election Department released its final report on voter turnout on Wednesday pegging the total percentage at 84.86. (Final list on P-10)
Addressing reporters here on Wednesday, Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Kharkongor said the figure was for 59 Assembly constituencies since polling in Williamnagar was deferred.
Out of 18,09,818 voters, 15,35,846 exercised their franchise. Female voters outnumbered male voters with a percentage of 86.30 whereas the percentage of male voters was 83.40.
“These figures do not include the postal votes, Williamnagar and the Kyndong Tuber polling station in Raliang constituency where the polling was stopped on Tuesday,” he said.
The last figure that the Election Department gave on Tuesday was 77.66 per cent and it had expected it to rise. Though the percentage has risen, the number remains less, though by 2 per cent, than the 86.82 per cent in 2013 despite a series of voters’ awareness events in the run-up to the polls.
“The turnout was healthy and we might equal the percentage of the last Assembly polls or may exceed 2013 overall percentage,” Kharkongor said.
High & low points
Mowkaiaw constituency recorded the highest voter turnout at 93.21 percent whereas voting was the lowest in North Shillong with 60.79 percent.
As far as districts are concerned, South West Garo Hills recorded the highest number of voters with 91.15 percent while the district that saw the least voting was South West Khasi Hills, which has two Assembly constituencies of Ranikor (62.83 per cent, a nosedive from 89.78 per cent in 2013) and Mawkyrwat (86.97 per cent as against 88.63 per cent in 2013). The overall district percentage stood at 75.08 per cent.
The second lowest turnout was in East Khasi Hills at 77.34 per cent.
In Garo Hills, the open constituency of Rajabala in the plains belt of Garo Hills has recorded the highest voter turnout of 92.93 per cent while South Tura recorded the lowest at 73.59 per cent, as per election results data.
In South Tura, NPP’s Agatha K Sangma is in a triangular fight with MLA John Leslee K Sangma (NCP) and the BJP’s Billykid A Sangma.
Similarly, in Rajabala there was a triangular contest with Independent legislator Ashahel D Shira pitted against Dr Azad Zaman of the Congress and Dr Mizanur Kazi of the NPP.
Dadenggre constituency where NPP heavyweight James Pangsang K Sangma is seeking to retain his seat had a high turnout of 90.79 per cent.
Rangsakona constituency, where the chief minster’s younger brother Zenith Sangma is fighting to retain his bastion, had 87.15 percent polling.
So also in Dalu where the BJP is hoping to open its account with the candidature of Kurosh Marak, polling was only 86.91 percent.
Another constituency that the BJP is counting on is Tikrikilla where polling stood at 88.8 percent. The saffron party had been expecting a surge in voters’ support for their candidate KC Boro.
The two districts in Jaintia Hills have recorded impressive turnout with Amjajer Rako in West Jaintia Hills topping the list of polling booths. It had 99.01 per cent in turnout with only one of the 101 votes not cast because the voter expired recently.
In East Jaintia Hills, Mukhaialong A under Khliehriat constituency recorded 100 per cent turnout.
(With inputs from Tura, Jowai & Mawkyrwat)
