Delhi sees 58.70% voter turnout, lowest in 10 years, as heatwave sizzles capital

Delhi recorded a voter turnout of 58.70 per cent as the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 concluded on Saturday, with people braving sweltering heat to exercise their franchise in the seven constituencies.

Delhi had witnessed 60.52 per cent voting in the 2019 general election when the BJP had swept all the seats, and 65.10% in the preceding 2014 Lok Sabha polls. On the contrary, the capital recorded 51.86% turnout in 2009 general elections

Until 5pm, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said that 53.73 per cent turnout had been recorded. The highest turnout of 57.97 per cent was recorded in the North East Delhi constituency, while the New Delhi seat had the lowest voting percentage at 50.44.

The Chief Electoral Officers and state authorities were instructed to manage the impact of the hot weather effectively. The directive included ensuring ample shade and hydration facilities at polling stations. Across Delhi, polling stations were equipped with shade tents and cold drinking water to help voters stay cool and hydrated. Additionally, essential amenities like ramps, toilets, and seating areas were set up to ensure a comfortable voting experience.

President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Chief Election Commissioner of India Rajiv Kumar were among those who exercised their voting right in the national capital.

“I have fulfilled my duty as a citizen of the country. I have already said this is the biggest duty of a citizen,” said the CJI after casting his vote at a polling booth in Lions Vidya Mandir Secondary School in the New Delhi constituency.

Union ministers S Jaishankar and Hardeep Singh Puri, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were among those who cast their votes.

Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal cast his vote in Chandni Chowk parliamentary constituency along with his wife Sunita Kejriwal, father and two children.

Meanwhile, multiple complaints of malfunctioning Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) were reported from the North East Delhi constituency.

At SB Public School in Karawal Nagar, a female voter noted that her VVPAT slip was not getting ejected.

However, poll officials said there were no reports of technical snags or delays in the commencement of voting at any polling station.

On the celebrities’ front, Bollywood actor Sidharth Malhotra was among several celebrities who were seen actively participating and encouraging their fans to exercise their democratic rights. Actor Sidharth Malhotra casted his vote in Delhi for the Lok Sabha elections 2024. Other prominent faces were Shweta Tripathi, Esha Gupta, Himansh Kohli, and Punjabi singer Dilbagh Singh.

A total of 1.52 crore voters — 82 lakh men, 69 lakh women and 1,228 from the third gender category — were eligible to cast their votes at more than 13,000 polling booths across the seven constituencies, officials said.

The BJP won all seven seats in Delhi in the 2014 and 2019 elections and is aiming for a clean sweep for the third consecutive time.

INDIA bloc partners AAP and the Congress are contesting the elections in Delhi under a four-three seat-share formula.

Also read: Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Women in Delhi vote with a mission: Safety, jobs, better infrastructure