The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Percentage of votes polled higher than in Assembly elections

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 16, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Percentage of votes polled higher than in Assembly elections

Staff Reporter

Men outnumber women in voting

KANCHEEPURAM: A comparison of the percentage of votes polled in the byelection held on Saturday for the Kancheepuram seat with the Assembly elections held in May 2001 gives an impression that the voters also have taken the byelection seriously.

In the Assembly elections, the constituency recorded 60.07 per cent of polling. However, this time it was 69.78 per cent, an increase of nearly 10 percentage points.

While 1,51,231 out of 2,51,748 voters exercised their franchise in May 2001 elections, this time 1,64,393 of the 2,35,598 (including 13,672 new voters) have cast their votes.

Turnout at booths

Another peculiar aspect the byelection witnessed was that 80 to 84.99 per cent of turnout was recorded in 24 booths, 85 to 90 per cent in 16 booths and more than 90 per cent in three booths.

A total of 841 out of 921 voters (91.31 per cent), turned up at Panchayat Union Primary School booth at Kolivakkam to cast their vote. The Panchayat Union Primary Schools at Nelveli and Kambarajapuram are the other booths where 90.96 and 90.85 percentage of votes polled, respectively. The lowest turnout of 41.32 per cent was recorded at the Anderson Higher Secondary School in the town.

Another surprising aspect was the low turnout of women voters. While 73.15 per cent (83,676 out of 1,14,387) male voters turned out to cast their votes, 66.59 per cent (80,717 out of 1,21,211) female voters exercised their franchise.

Arrangements for counting

The District Election Officer and Collector, R. Venkatesan, said arrangements were made at the Pachaiyappa Men's College here for tomorrow's counting of votes. Votes recorded in ballot units would be counted and it was expected that the entire process could be completed within 17 rounds. The strongroom where the electronic voting machines were kept would be opened tomorrow morning in the presence of the agents appointed by the candidates.

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Tamil Nadu