JOIN USKerala has witnessed an increase in the number of voters, more than 10 per cent, over a period of five years, according to figures released by the Election Commission on Friday.
The total number of voters in the electoral rolls prepared for the April 10 Lok Sabha election in the state is 2,42,51,942; the figure for the 2009 election was 2,17,99,979. The 2.42-crore electorate in the state comprises close to 1.17 crore men and 1.25 crore women.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nalini Netto told reporters that the number of polling stations in the state had also been increased to 21,424 from 20,476 in 2009. Teams constituted by the EC have already visited polling stations in all the 14 districts to ensure that the stations are compliant with the stipulated Basic Minimum Facilities standards.
Under the Systematic Voters’ Education Electoral Participation, the commission has undertaken various initiatives to generate awareness about the electoral process. “In a state like Kerala that has consistently shown high voting percentages, we have to adopt a different set of measures. The EVM awareness programmes in colleges, campaigns on ethical voting, radio jingles and voter awareness programmes through television and print media have been taken up,” Netto said.
Two ballot units will be used in five constituencies — Thiruvananthapuram, Attingal, Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Ernakulam — with more than 15 candidates in the fray.