Officials have announced that schools and colleges in Gautam Buddh Nagar will be closed on Friday due to the Lok Sabha election in the constituency. However, they will resume normal operations on Saturday. In a bid to facilitate voting, factories and industries have been instructed to grant paid leave to their employees on Friday.
Gautam Buddh Nagar, encompassing Noida and Greater Noida, is scheduled for polling on April 26, boasting a total of 26.75 lakh registered voters.
District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma emphasized the closure of educational institutions on Friday while assuring their reopening on Saturday. He further elaborated on the directive for factories and industries to allow workers time off to cast their votes. This decision stems from concerns that some individuals might be unable to participate in the voting process due to work commitments.
Verma, also serving as the district election officer, urged residents’ welfare authorities (RWAs) and apartment owners’ associations (AOAs) to actively engage in the electoral process. The administration plans to recognize and reward RWAs and AOAs that contribute to increased voter turnout.
According to data from the Election Commission, Gautam Buddh Nagar has witnessed varying levels of voter participation in previous Lok Sabha elections. The constituency recorded a turnout of 60.47% in 2019, 60.38% in 2014, and a significantly lower 48% in 2009, indicating a need for improved voter engagement.
Notably, the voter turnout in Gautam Buddh Nagar has consistently fallen below the national average. In 2019, the national average was 67.40%, while it stood at 66% in 2014 and 58% in 2009, according to electoral data.
(With PTI inputs)
