Haryana's Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal on Sunday announced a voter turnout of approximately 67.90 percent for the 15th Assembly General Election held on October 5 (Saturday). Out of the 2.03 crore registered voters, 1.38 crore participated in the elections, comprising 74.28 lakh men, 63.91 lakh women, and 118 third-gender voters.
Sirsa district led the state with the highest turnout of 75.36 percent, while Faridabad reported the lowest at 56.49 percent. Among the Assembly constituencies, Ellenabad recorded an impressive 80.61 percent voter participation, contrasting sharply with Badkhal, which saw only 48.27 percent.
Agarwal emphasized the peaceful nature of the elections, noting significant participation across various districts. Ambala recorded 67.62 percent, Panchkula 65.23 percent, Yamunanagar 74.20 percent, and Kurukshetra 69.59 percent. Other notable turnouts included Kaithal at 72.36 percent, Karnal 65.67 percent, Panipat 68.80 percent, Sonipat 66.08 percent, Jind 72.19 percent, and Fatehabad at 74.77 percent. Hisar district registered 70.58 percent, Bhiwani 70.46 percent, and Charkhi Dadri 69.58 percent, with Gurugram seeing a lower turnout of 57.96 percent.
To ensure a smooth electoral process, the Election Commission of India implemented several measures, including webcasting at polling stations for continuous monitoring. A total of 97 central observers were deployed for field monitoring and feedback collection. In a proactive stance against electoral inducement, authorities seized banned materials worth Rs 75.97 crore since the election announcement. To maintain law and order, 225 companies of Central Armed Police Forces, along with 29,462 police personnel, 21,196 Home Guard jawans, and 10,403 Special Police Officers, were stationed throughout the state.
Agarwal highlighted the importance of creating a pleasant voting experience, stating that basic amenities such as drinking water, electricity, toilets, ramps, and help desks were provided at all polling stations. Wheelchair facilities were also available for individuals with disabilities. To foster youth engagement, 114 polling stations were managed by young voters, while 115 stations were overseen entirely by women and 87 by Divyang employees.
In the lead-up to the elections, the Election Commission organized various Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) activities to promote democratic participation, including street plays, local sports events, and competitions, all aimed at inspiring greater enthusiasm among young voters.
Low Voter Turnout in Gurugram
Gurugram’s urban voters displayed a lack of interest in Saturday’s polling, with the Millennium City recording a low voter turnout of only 57.4 percent. Despite the introduction of conveniences like doorstep polling booths, segments such as Badshahpur and Gurugram city lagged with turnouts of 54 percent and 51 percent, respectively.
In contrast, the rural segment of Sohna, including the Tauru block of Nuh district, boosted the overall district turnout to 68.6 percent, while Pataudi achieved 61.4 percent. Local officials had hoped for a turnout comparable to the 62 percent seen during the Lok Sabha elections but expressed disappointment with the urban response.
Gurugram Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer Nishant Yadav noted that around 1,500 high-rise polling booths were set up in an effort to engage residents of high-rise societies. However, Resident Welfare Associations attributed the low turnout to voter disillusionment with political parties. Officials are still tallying votes and expect the final turnout to approach 62 percent.
