For the first time number of women voters are at par with men | Will women decide the fate of India in 2019?
Whereas elections saw average men turnout of 68.3% in first four phases, women turnout was 68%, with 203.1 million voters compared to 215 million men.
2019 election saw the highest voter turnout since independence at 67.11% – with 4.1 crore additional women voted as gender gap came down to 0.4% from 1.4% in 2014 and 9% in 2009, as per figures read out by Deputy Election Commissioner Sandeep Saxena.
Turnout of women voters surpassed men voters in at least nine States and Union Territories
Manipur saw record-breaking 84.16% turnout followed by Meghalaya at 73.64%.
Other states with higher women turnout include Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Uttarakhand, Goa, Mizoram and Lakshadweep.
Political parties too are trying to woo women voters in 2019 – fielding more women candidates than ever before.
Analysts opine the increase is due to women being more aware and intending to assert their opinion on the political fate of the country.
Women oriented schemes in the last 5 years range from Ujjwala to Swachch Bharat, as politicians understand the new emerging vote bank.
Greater role in country’s political fate
Surveys opine that in 2019, women voters displayed greater independence in their voting preference, relinquishing the trend of following family political inclinations.
With women now coming to the fore and voting independently based on how the government performed in their domain and what kind of government is best suited to tackling their issues in future.
As it stands, women votes may emerge as crucial in the results of the 7-phase general elections when counting initiates on 23rd May.
