Improving upon the record of polling in the state, Himachal Pradesh recorded 74.61 percent voter turnout on Thursday breaking the record of 2003, when 74.51 percent polling was recorded. The state overall recorded an improvement of 0.10 percent in the previous record of maximum polling.
Demonstrating a new trend of women participation in the democratic process, they outnumbered male voters, with 77.76 percent of fair sex voters pressed the button of EVMs, while the percentage of male voters in Himachal Pradesh remained 71.53 percent.
While Sirmour recorded highest polling with 80.84 percent voter used their electoral franchise. Sirmour, remained the sole district to record more than 80 percent polling. like many other districts of the state, Sirmour also recorded better percentage of women voters than men as 81.05 women voters turned out of their houses to cast their vote while the percentage of male voters in the state was 80.65 per cent.
Sirmour was followed by Kullu, where the total voter turnout was recorded 77.87 per cent. But in Kullu the voter percentage of males was better than females, as the male voter percentage was 78.23 while female percentage was lesser by one percent at 77.49 percent.
Considered BJP bastion, district Hamirpur recorded lowest voter turnout, as the polling percentage in the district could barely crossed the 70 percent mark. Hamirpur recorded 70.18 percent polling. While a high turnout of female voters was witnessed with 77.07 percent women voters casting their votes, but the male voters apparently remained indifferent of voting as only 63.006 percent eligible male voters cast their votes. The male voter turnout in Hamirpur was lowest throughout the state.
In nine districts of the state, women voter turnout was better than the men voters and in only three districts the men voter turnout was recorded better than women.
In the constituencies, the Doon constituency in Solan district recorded maximum polling where 88.95 per cent voters used their electoral franchise. Nalagarh, also in Solan district remained on second position in terms of polling percentage with 84.26 percent polling. Overall eight constituencies in the state recorded more than 80 percent polling.
Shimla Urban constituency, where from Vikramaditya Singh, son of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, is making debut in electoral politics, recorded lowest voter turnout, with only 63.75 per cent polling overall. Neither male nor female voters have shown much enthusiasm as the percentage of male and female voters in the constituency remained 63.05 and 64.55 respectively.
The largest district of the hill state, Kangra recorded 72.50 polling. Here also a large difference was witnessed in the poll percentage of male and female voters. While the district recorded polling by 78.67 percent voters, only 66.43 percent male voters took to pain to visit the polling station and use their electoral franchise.
The other big district Mandi also recorded huge margin in the polling percentage of male and female voters. As the polling percentage in Mandi was 75.21 per cent, the percentage of female voters was 78.57 against male voters with 71.85 percent.