The Election Commission of India ECI appealed to the voters in Gujarat to come out in 'large numbers' during phase II of the state's local assembly elections to compensate for low voting in the first phase.
After the conclusion of the Gujarat assembly elections phase I, the state saw a relatively low average voter turnout of 63.31 per cent in 89 seats. This was lower than the 66.75 per cent recorded in phase I of the 2017 state election with the same constituencies.
In a tweet, Sheyphali Sharan, DG Election Commission of India, said Urban apathy continues to be unabated from Shimla to Surat. ECI appeals to voters of Gujarat to come out in large numbers during the second phase in order to compensate for low voting in 1st phase Polling for the first phase in 19 districts of Saurashtra, Kutch and south Gujarat was held on December 1, 2022. The fate of 788 candidates was sealed in Electronic Voting Machines.
Fourteen constituencies had more than 70 per cent of the vote. Dediapada in Narmada district recorded the highest 82.71 per cent vote, followed by Kaprada in the Valsad district, which had a turnout of 79.57 per cent. Gandhidham's seat in Kutch district recorded the lowest turnout of 47.86 per cent.
The tribal-dominated Narmada district recorded the highest average turnout of 78.24 per cent, followed by Tapi with 76.91 per cent. The Navsari district had an average 71.06 per cent of voting, the EC said.
Botad district had the lowest voter turnout of 57.58 per cent. Amreli was close to the end of the day with 57.59 per cent turnout. Surat district had 62.27 per cent of the vote and Rajkot 60.45 per cent.
In 2017 the final turnout for both phases of the election was 68.41 per cent.
The second phase of the 2022 elections for the remaining 93 seats with 833 candidates in the fray will be held on December 5, and votes will be counted on December 8.
A total of 26,269 ballot units, 25,430 control units and 25,430 VVPATs were used.