1st Phase Polling In Odisha: Female Voters Outnumber Male, Says CEO

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s chief electoral officer (CEO) Nikunja Bihari Dhal on Saturday said the number of female voters is more than male voters as per the voters’ list in four Parliamentary constituencies going to polls in the first phase in the state.

Speaking at a presser ahead of first phase polling in simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly, Dhal said, “Our voters’ list is inclusive. It has a good representation of youths, PWDs and elderly citizens.”

Stating that home voting has been facilitated for the PWDs and elderly citizens, the CEO said, “We have already completed home voting in four parliamentary constituencies. So far, more than 3,280 senior citizens and PWDs in 28 Assembly segments under the four Parliamentary constituencies have voted in home voting.”

He further said voter facilitation centres have been opened for voting by polling personnel. More than 23,000 voters on election duty have exercised their franchise in these facilitation centres, he added.

“For the defence and services personnel, we have already sent 6,296 postal ballots electronically to enable them to exercise their franchise,” he said.

Security of the voters, polling officials and police personnel deployed during polling is one of the priority areas of the Election Commission of India, he said. “We have deployed 104 companies of Central Armed Police Forces to ensure law and order during voting. We are confident that polling will be conducted peacefully and smoothly,” Dhal said.

“All arrangements to provide a happy experience to the voters. I appeal to all voters of the four parliamentary constituencies to come out in large number on May 13 and exercise their democratic right,” he added.

It may be noted that polling will be conducted in four Lok Sabha constituencies of Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Berhampur in the first phase.