Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar announced on Saturday that a total of 96.8 crore voters will be eligible to participate in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Addressing a press conference, Kumar also revealed plans for the deployment of 1.5 crore polling officials and security personnel across 10.5 lakh polling stations, emphasizing the monumental scale of the electoral process in the world’s largest democracy.
“We are dedicated to fostering a truly celebratory and democratic atmosphere,” Kumar declared. He highlighted that the term of the 17th Lok Sabha is set to conclude on June 16, 2024, alongside the terms of Legislative Assemblies in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim. Furthermore, elections are scheduled in Jammu and Kashmir.
Kumar provided insights into the voter demographics, stating that approximately 49.7 crore voters are male and 47.1 crore are female. He noted the presence of 1.8 crore first-time voters and highlighted a significant segment of the electorate, with 19.47 crore voters falling within the age range of 20-29 years. Additionally, he emphasized inclusivity by mentioning that 88.4 lakh voters belong to the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category, with 2.18 lakh centenarians and 48,000 transgenders also eligible to vote.
The CEC was joined by two Election Commissioners during the press conference.
