Bhopal: EC Steps Up Efforts To Increase Women Voting Percentage

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Election Commission has launched measures to motivate women voters to exercise their franchise so that their voting percentage can improve.

Chief Electoral Officer Anupam Rajan said intervention programmes would be held, which would aim at women self help groups, Livelihood Mission, women working under midday meals.

Their members will be encouraged to cast vote. Besides, held of literacy clubs formed in schools and colleges will also be taken to reach first time women voters and ensure that they cast vote.

Special efforts will be made to increase women’s voting percentage where there was difference of three per cent in male-female voting in last election. In 2018, women voting percentage was 74.03 while that of men was 75.98 %.

When contacted, former Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat said men in rural areas would often leave women at home to take care of household work while he would cast vote. Moreover, unmarried girls hardly move out to vote unless accompanied by male members of the family.

Commending the SVEEP programme of EC, he said men should be encouraged to take women to polling centres to increase latter’s voting percentage.

Assembly election

2013: Women voting percentage: 70.09

Men voting percentage: 73.86

2008: Women voting percentage: 65.91

Male voting percentage: 72.30

2003: Women voting percentage: 62.14.

Male voting percentage: 71.94

1998: Women voting percentage: 53.53

1993: Women voting percentage: 52.35