Turnout in yesterday’s Meghalaya Assembly election has been revised upwards to 85.25 per cent, the Chief Electoral Officer informed today.
Provisional results from yesterday evening showed that only 74.32 per cent of registered voters had cast a ballot. However, data from some polling stations, particularly those in rural areas, had not been submitted at that time.
Mowkaiaw, in West Jaiñtia Hills, recorded the highest voter turnout at 92.73 per cent. This was one of 11 constituencies that had 90 per cent or more. Jaiñtia Hills did particularly well in terms of voting, with five – Nartiang, Mowkaiaw, Sutnga Saipung, Khliehriat, Amlarem – out of the seven seats in the area registering 90 per cent or more.
Both of Eastern West Khasi Hills’ two seats saw similarly high percentages, with Mairang recording 90.93 and Mawthadraishan 91.70.
The highest turnout in Garo Hills was Rajabala (92.66 per cent) in West Garo Hills. The other three constituencies to see at least 90 percent turnout were Selsella (91.71), Phulbari (90.39) and Dadenggre (90.23).
All of the worst performers, as is usually the case, were in Shillong. The lowest performing constituency was South Shillong (62.10 per cent), followed by East Shillong (64.69), North Shillong (64.76), Nongthymmai (66.58) and West Shillong (67.38).
The two lowest performing seats in Garo Hills were both in West Garo Hills – South Tura with 73.65 per cent and North Tura with 75.98.
In terms of absolute numbers, although Mawlai is the largest constituency by registered voters (50,058), it was East Jaintia Hills’ Sutnga Saipung (42,643) and Khliehriat (42,594) that saw the highest number of voters who exercised their franchise; Mawlai’s 79.00 per cent turnout meant that only 39,548 actually voted.
In contrast, Dalu in West Garo Hills is the smallest constituency with just 22,099 registered voters (18,773 of whom took part in the polls) but it was East Shillong that saw the fewest to cast a ballot, with just 16,441 out of 25,417 doing so.
Based on gender, 83.31 per cent of Meghalaya’s registered male voters cast their ballot while the figure for women was 87.15 percent.
Meanwhile, the CEO, Frederick Roy Kharkongor, said that, if polling had not been postponed in Sohiong (due to the death of a candidate) the state’s percentage would have crossed 86 as that constituency traditionally has strong voter participation.
Turnout in the 2018 Assembly election was 86.65 per cent and 86.88 per cent in 2013.
