New Delhi, February 9 – The Election Commission of India (EC) has announced a groundbreaking 96.88 crore people registered to vote in the upcoming 2024 General Elections, solidifying its status as the largest electorate in the country’s history. Following an extensive Special Summary Revision 2024 exercise, the EC published electoral rolls across all States/UTs, using January 1, 2024, as the qualifying date.
The EC highlighted the successful revision of electoral rolls in Jammu and Kashmir and Assam after the delimitation of constituencies, emphasizing meticulous planning, coordination, and political party participation. This initiative has yielded commendable achievements in terms of inclusivity, health, and the purity of electoral rolls.
One significant achievement is the increase in the gender ratio from 940 in 2023 to 948 in 2024, a positive shift acknowledged by the poll panel. Special attention has been given to maintaining the purity and health of the Electoral Roll, with an emphasis on disclosures and transparency during the revision process.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, in a historic move, held a press conference in Pune during the launch of the Special Summary Revision Exercise in November 2022. He detailed the various tasks involved in the revision of electoral rolls, highlighting the active participation of political parties at every stage.
The EC underscored the notable rise in female voter registrations, showcasing a dedicated effort toward gender parity and inclusivity in the electoral framework. Over 2.63 crore new electors have been added, with approximately 1.41 crore being female electors, surpassing newly enrolled male voters by over 15 percent.
Special efforts have been made to achieve 100 percent registration of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG), making the electoral rolls the most inclusive to date, the EC added. Through thorough house-to-house verification, the names of 1,65,76,654 deceased, permanently shifted, and duplicate electors have been removed from the electoral rolls, ensuring the integrity and purity of the electoral process. This comprehensive cleanup includes 67,82,642 deceased voters, 75,11,128 permanently shifted/absent voters, and 22,05,685 duplicate voters.
In an additional announcement, the EC revealed that over two crore youth electors in the age group of 18 to 29 years have been added to the voters’ list, underscoring a concerted effort to engage the younger demographic in the democratic process.
With the stage set for the General Elections, the EC’s initiatives aim to establish an electoral framework prioritizing inclusivity, transparency, and the overall health of the democratic process in 2024.
