Electoral System Prepared for Assembly Elections: Increase Voter Turnout – Chief Election Officer S. Chokkalingam

Opportunity for Voter Registration Until October 19

Mumbai, October 16: The Election Commission of India announced the schedule for the Assembly General Elections 2024 on October 15, 2024. Voting in the state’s total of 288 assembly constituencies will take place in a single phase on November 20, 2024. Chief Election Officer and Principal Secretary S. Chokkalingam urged voters to actively participate and increase voter turnout.

Mr. Chokkalingam spoke during a press conference organized at the Ministry and Legislative Assembly Correspondents’ Room regarding the Assembly General Elections 2024. Additional Chief Election Officer Dr. Kiran Kulkarni and Additional Chief Election Officer Vijay Rathod were also present.

Voters who have not registered their names in the electoral roll still have the opportunity to do so until October 19. Both offline and online registration methods are available for voters. The continuous voter registration program is still ongoing. Therefore, applications received from eligible citizens who have not yet registered will be considered for inclusion in the electoral roll until ten days before the last date for filing nomination papers, specifically until October 19, 2024. Mr. Chokkalingam urged all eligible citizens to take advantage of this opportunity and register to vote.

Outline of the Election Schedule

The notification for the Assembly General Elections 2024 will be issued in the official gazette on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. The deadline for filing nomination papers is Tuesday, October 29, 2024. The scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, and the deadline for withdrawal of candidatures is Monday, November 4, 2024. Voting will be held on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, and the counting of votes will occur on Saturday, November 23, 2024. The election process will be completed on Monday, November 25, 2024. Additionally, a by-election will also be held for the Nanded Lok Sabha constituency.

Total Voter Registration: 9 Crores 63 Lakhs 69 Thousand 410

As of October 15, 2024, the number of male voters in the state stands at 4 crores 97 lakhs 40 thousand 302, while the number of female voters is 4 crores 66 lakhs 23 thousand 77. The number of third-gender voters is 6 thousand 31. A total of 9 crores 63 lakhs 69 thousand 410 voters have been registered. According to the 2011 census, there is a gender ratio of 929 females for every 1,000 males. In 2019, the ratio of female voters was 925 females for every 1,000 males. With special campaigns for female voter registration, there has been a significant improvement in the ratio to 936 in 2024.

The current electoral roll contains 20 lakhs 93 thousand 206 new voters in the 18-19 age group. Additionally, there are 1 lakh 16 thousand 355 service voters registered. The updated electoral roll includes 12 lakhs 43 thousand 192 senior citizens over the age of 85, of whom 47 thousand 716 voters are over 100 years old, eligible for postal voting.

Comparison of Voter Numbers Between 2019 and Now:

	Detail	Voters in 2019 Assembly Elections	Voters in Final Electoral Roll as of August 30, 2024	Voters as of October 15, 2024
1	Male	4,67,37,841	4,93,33,996	4,97,40,302
2	Female	4,27,05,777	4,60,34,362	4,66,23,077
3	Third-Gender	2,593	5,944	6,031
Total		8,94,46,211	9,53,74,302	9,63,69,410

Increase in Polling Stations

In comparison to 2019, the number of polling stations in the state has increased for the 2024 elections. From 96 thousand 653 polling stations in 2019, the number has risen to 1 lakh 186 for the 2024 Assembly elections, comprising 42 thousand 604 urban and 57 thousand 582 rural polling stations. As per the Election Commission’s directives, a maximum of 1,500 voters is designated for each polling station. To encourage higher turnout among urban voters, especially in Pune, Mumbai, Thane, and other cities, a total of 1 thousand 181 polling stations have been established in high-rise buildings and cooperative housing societies, with an additional 210 polling stations set up in slum areas.

As per the commission’s instructions, minimum facilities like drinking water, electricity supply, lighting arrangements, ramps for differently-abled voters, appropriately sized doors and furniture, sanitation facilities, etc., will be provided at each polling station. All polling stations will be on the ground floor, except in the Mumbai region where polling stations may be located on upper floors due to logistical constraints.

Voter Turnout Statistics

The voting percentages in the 2019 Assembly elections were as follows:

Election Type	Male Voting (%)	Female Voting (%)	Third-Gender Voting (%)	Total (%)
Assembly 2014	64.33	61.69	37	63.08
Assembly 2019	62.77	59.26	25.48	61.1
Lok Sabha 2024	63.45	59.04	25.35	61.33

Preparedness of the System

In Maharashtra, EVM-VVPAT systems will be used in all assembly constituencies. A total of 2 lakh 26 thousand 624 voting machines, 1 lakh 26 thousand 911 control units, and 1 lakh 37 thousand 118 VVPAT machines will be deployed. The first-level checks of all machines have been completed. To create awareness and build trust among voters regarding the voting machines, extensive public awareness programs were conducted from September 10, 2024, to October 9, 2024, showcasing how to vote using the machines and ensuring the process is secure.

Adequate arrangements have been made for the necessary equipment and facilities at polling stations for the actual elections. Voters are encouraged to cooperate with the electoral system in all respects and participate in the elections by casting their votes.

Model Code of Conduct

With the announcement of the election schedule by the Election Commission of India, the Model Code of Conduct has come into immediate effect across the state. This code will remain in effect until the notification for the establishment of the new assembly is published. During this period, there are restrictions on the distribution of grants from discretionary funds, ministerial tours, the use of government vehicles, government advertisements from pooled funds, the announcement of new projects or schemes, and the distortion of public/private property.

The election expenses will be monitored and controlled during the Model Code of Conduct period. Control rooms have been established at the state and district levels for this purpose. The counting of election expenses will begin from the time the candidate files their nomination papers. However, if election-related materials were purchased before filing the nomination and used after, those expenses will also be included in the election expenses. Each candidate for the Maharashtra Assembly elections has a spending limit of ₹40 lakh.

Media Certification and Monitoring Committees

State-level and district-level Media Certification and Monitoring Committees have been established for the certification of advertisements by political parties and candidates. These committees will also address complaints related to paid news.

Meetings will be held with all political parties, media outlets, and heads of government departments to provide information on the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct at both state and district levels. On polling and counting days, press representatives will be granted access to polling/counting centers, authorized by the Election Commission of India. However, recommendations for such access must be submitted through the prescribed formats to the Public Relations Directorate within the stipulated time.

Moreover, the “DOs & DON’Ts” for political parties and candidates during the Model Code of Conduct period are available on the Chief Election Officer of Maharashtra’s website: https://ceo.maharashtra.gov.in. The Election Commission of India also regularly publishes handbooks related to these regulations on its website https://eci.gov.in, which includes details of the declarations and expenses submitted by candidates.

Facilities for Voters

Differently-Abled Voters (PwDs): The Election Commission of India has launched the “Saksham” app this year to increase the participation of differently-abled voters. Additionally, special camps have been conducted to register more differently-abled voters during the Special Brief Re-Enrollment Program 2024 (second phase). Currently, 6 lakhs 36 thousand 278 voters have been marked as differently-abled upon their request. Those with a disability percentage of over 40% will have the option of home voting through postal ballots.

Throughout this process, meetings have been held with recognized political parties at the state and district levels. The final electoral rolls published on August 30, 2024, are available on the Chief Election Officer’s website. These efforts have resulted

Appendix 1

Various Voter Counts from the Electoral Roll dated 15.10.2024

Sr. No.

Details

Voters from the 2019 Assembly Election

Voters from the Final Electoral Roll published on 30 August 2024

Updated Voter Count as of 15.10.2024

1. Male: 46,737,841 | 49,333,996 | 49,740,302
2. Female: 42,705,777 | 46,034,362 | 46,623,077
3. Third Gender: 2,593 | 5,944 | 6,031
   Total: 89,446,211 | 95,374,302 | 96,369,410

Sr. No.

Voter Category

Count

1. Disabled: 636,278
2. Voters in the Armed Forces: 116,355
3. Age Group 18-19 years: 2,093,206
4. Senior Citizens aged 85+ years: 1,243,192