The turnout for Phase 5 of the LS polls is 62.2%, with more women casting their vote than men.

New Delhi: The Election Commission announced on Thursday that the voter turnout for the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha polls held on May 20 has reached 62.2%. This number reflects a significant increase, with women turning out in greater numbers than men.

In a statement released by the EC, it was revealed that 61.48% of registered male voters cast their ballots, while 63% of female electors exercised their right to vote. This phase of the elections covered 49 seats in six states and two union territories, with over 8.95 crore eligible voters, including 4.69 crore men, 4.26 crore women, and 5409 third gender individuals.

The participation of women in the voting process was particularly noteworthy in states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Ladakh, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh. In these states, the number of women voters exceeded that of men. However, there was a significant gap between the male and female turnout in Bihar and Jharkhand. In Bihar, the male turnout was 52.42%, while the female turnout was 61.58%. Similarly, in Jharkhand, the male turnout was 58.08%, and the female turnout was 68.65%.

In West Bengal, 38.22% of registered third gender voters exercised their right to vote, the highest in any state. However, the EC noted that the figures may change after the completion of repolling at two polling stations in the Kandhamal parliamentary constituency in Odisha.

Compared to the corresponding phase in the 2019 polls, the voter turnout in this phase was slightly lower, with 64.16% recorded in the previous election. However, the fourth phase of the 2024 elections saw a higher turnout of 69.16%, a 3.65 percentage point increase from 2019.

Similarly, the third and second phases of the elections also saw higher turnout rates than the corresponding phases in 2019, with 65.68% and 66.71% recorded, respectively. The first phase of the ongoing elections, however, saw a lower turnout of 66.14% compared to 69.43% in 2019.

The EC has clarified that the final turnout numbers will only be available after the results are announced, as postal ballots are still being counted and will be added to the total voting percentage.

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