Jaipur: The voting for the 200-member Rajasthan assembly elections concluded on Saturday evening with a lower turnout than the previous two polls. According to the Election Commission, the provisional voter turnout was 68.24 percent till 5 pm, while the final figures are yet to be released as voting continued till late night in some booths.
The voting time was scheduled till 6 pm, but as per the commission’s instructions, the voters who were in the queue till then were allowed to cast their votes. Many booths witnessed long queues of voters till the end, indicating a high enthusiasm among the electorate. However, the overall turnout was expected to be between 70 to 72 percent, which is less than the 74.11 percent recorded in 2018 and the 75.67 percent recorded in 2013.
The highest turnout was reported from Pokhran and Tijara assembly constituencies, where more than 80 percent of the voters exercised their franchise till 5 pm. Nine other constituencies also registered a turnout of 75 to 80 percent, while 65 constituencies saw a turnout of 70 to 75 percent. On the other hand, the lowest turnout was reported from eight constituencies, where only 55 to 60 percent of the voters cast their votes till 5 pm.
The voting was conducted amid tight security and strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocols. The commission had deployed over 2.5 lakh personnel, including 1.5 lakh security forces, to ensure a free and fair election. The commission had also arranged for special facilities for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, women, and transgender voters.
