SHILLONG: The final voter turnout for the Lok Sabha election in the state was 71.38 per cent, an increase of 2.53 per cent from the last parliamentary polls in 2014.
Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Kharkongor released the final polling percentage on Friday. In both Shillong and Tura constituencies, female voters outnumbered their male counterparts. However, the number of both male and female voters saw an increase from 2014.
Shillong and Tura recorded 65.49 and 81.20 pc turnout respectively. In Shillong the percentage of male and female voters was 62.22 and 68.62 pc respectively. In Tura the turnout of male and female voters was 80 and 82.43 pc respectively.
Kharkongor said the overall turnout in the state this year was the second highest since 1998 when the Lok Sabha and the legislative elections were held simultaneously and the turnout was 74.38 per cent.
“This is the best standalone voting percentage recorded in the state’s history… We are therefore satisfied with the voting percentage and 71.38 is the second highest voting percentage recorded in the state’s history,” he said.
Shillong and Tura parliamentary constituencies saw increase of 2.21 per cent and 3.06 per cent, respectively, in turnout.
Altogether, 13,64,259 voters — 6,53,178 male and 7,01,181 female voters — exercised their right to franchise.
Women voters outnumbered men with 73.68 per cent turnout as against 69.03 per cent male electorate.
“We are proud of our women, they have taken the lead politically and are active, be it in terms of enrolment or participation in the polls,” he said.
Year Voter turnout in pc Year Voter turnout in pc 1977 49.88 1980/83 65.19 1984 54.47 1989 51.92 1991 53.75 1996 61.62 1998 74.38 1999 56.16 2004 52.66 2009 64.38 2014 68.84