Telangana voters’ turnout dips to 63.94 per cent from 73.74 in 2018; highest in Jangaon, lowest in Yakutpura

Hyderabad: In a drastic dip in voters’ turnout, the total estimated polling percentage in Telangana was just 63.94 per cent in the 2023 Assembly elections till 5 pm, way lower than 73.74 per cent in the 2018 elections and 69 per cent in the 2014 elections.

The constituency of Jangaon, with 83.34 per cent voters’ turnout, topped the list of the 119 constituencies in the state. Yakutpura with a 27.87 per cent polling percentage turned out to be the constituency with the lowest voters’ turnout.

Other constituencies with relatively higher voter turnout include Narsampet (83 per cent), Dubbak (82.75 per cent), Nakrekal (82.34 per cent), Medak (81.72 per cent), Palakurthi (81.23 per cent), Bhongir (81.04 per cent).

Apart from Yakutpura, constituencies with the lowest polling percentage are also from urban Hyderabad. They include Nampally (32.40 per cent), Charminar (34.02 per cent), Malakpet (36.90 per cent), Bahadurpura (39.11 per cent) and Chandrayangutta (39 per cent).

The highest voter turnout among the 15 constituencies of Hyderabad were from Secunderabad Cantonment (47.14 per cent), Goshamahal (45.79 per cent), Khairatabad (45.5 per cent) and Sanathnagar (45.1 per cent).

Voting trend

The first report about the voting trend came from the office of the state chief electoral officer (CEO) at 10 am. An approximate polling percentage in the state between 7 am and 9 am was 7.78 per cent. The voters’ turnout however improved as the foggy morning gradually progressed into a partially cloudy day. By 11 am, the approximate polling trend rose to 20.64 per cent and then to 36.68 per cent by 1 pm. By 3 pm, the poll percentage increased to approximately 51.89 per cent and finally, it staggered to 63.94 per cent at the end of the poll at 5 pm.

In the last two months, ever since the election schedule was announced on October 9, the Election Commission (ECI), various volunteer groups and NGOs have constantly taken up initiatives to encourage electors to come forward and cast their votes rather than treating the day as a holiday. Despite their efforts, the overall polling percentage was discouraging.

Smallest and largest constituencies of Telangana

The smallest Assembly constituency (by area) is Charminar while the smallest Assembly constituency (by the size of the electorate) is Bhadrachalam. Charminar too had one of the lowest polling percentages at 34.02 per cent while Bhadrachalam witnessed 67 per cent polling.

The largest constituency (by area) Mulugu saw a 75.02 per cent polling percentage while the largest constituency (by the size of the electorate) Serilingampally had a 48.60 per cent voters’ turnout.

2018 Vs 2023

During the previous Assembly elections in December 2018, the polling percentage was 73.74 per cent and before that 69 per cent in 2014. In 2023 the poll percentage tanked to 63.94 per cent.

In 2018, the highest poll percentage was from Palair (92.1 per cent) and Madhira (92 per cent) followed by Alair (91.5 per cent). This year, the top three voters’ turnout in Telangana was from Jangaon (83.34 per cent), Narsampet (83 per cent), and Dubbak (82.75 per cent).

In 2018, the lowest polling percentage was from various constituencies of urban Hyderabad which included Malakpet (42.4 per cent) followed by Yakutpura (42.5 per cent) and Nampally (45.5 per cent). Interestingly, nothing much has changed even this time, except a further fall in polling percentage from those constituencies.

Even this time, the lowest voters’ turnout is from Yakutpura (27.87 per cent), Nampally (32.40 per cent), Charminar (34.02 per cent), Malakpet (36.90 per cent), Bahadurpura (39.11 per cent) and Chandrayangutta (39 per cent).

Telangana elections 2023 at a glance

Total number of voters (sum of general and service voters) for the Assembly elections 2023 is 3,26,18,205.

Total number of general voters is 32,602,799, out of which male voters were 16,298,418, female voters were 16,301,705 and total transgender voters were 2,676.

Apart from general voters, there were 15,406 service voters (who voted through postal ballots) including 14,850 male and 556 female service voters.

Young voters in the age bracket 18 and 19 years were 9,99,667.

Senior citizens voters (age 80 plus) were 4,40,371.

Overseas electors (NRI) were 2,944.

PwD (Persons with Physical Disabilities) electors were 5,06,921.

Voters in 2018 elections

In the 2018 Assembly elections, the total number of voters was 2,80,64,680, which was marginally less than the 2014 figures at 2,81,65,885.

In 2018, the male voters were 1.38 crores and female voters were 1.35 crores. There were 5,560 transgender voters.