85.2% voter turnout in final phase takes overall turnout to 82.04% in Assam elections

GUWAHATI: An 85.2 per cent voter turnout in the final phase of polling in Assam assembly election yesterday took the overall statewide turnout percentage to 82.04 per cent.

The first phase registered 77.21 per cent and the second phase saw a turnout of 80.96 per cent.

After a turnout that was little lower than expected in the first phase on March 27, inclement weather on the day of second phase polling on April 1 kept the turnout below average.

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The second phase included constituencies in Central Assam, North Bank and Barak Valley where turnouts are traditionally recorded high due to relatively high presence of migrant voters compared to Upper Assam.

Elections to the 126-seat assembly were held in 47 constiuencies in the first phase, 39 in the second and 40 in the final phase.

Assam has a total voters of nearly 2,34 crore, including 1.15 crore women and 398 transgenders.

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The Assam chief electoral officer Nitin Khade had targeted an overall poll turnout percentage of above 85 to do it better than the 2016 figure of 84.72 per cent, which is the all-time high record in the state.

To achieve the goal, Khade took the help of the Election Commission’s COVID-19 guidelines, including postal ballots for COVID-19 positive patients as well as elderly and disabled citizens.

The Assam CEO also engaged youth icons such as cricketer Riyan Parag, actor Kopil Bora, singer Anindita Paul, para-cyclist Rakesh Banik and others to campaign and encourage voters. Advertisements were published in print and electronic media. Street plays were staged etc.

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The Cachar district administration also registered a national record with the country’s longest ever rangoli spreading awareness over voting.