India achieves record-breaking 96.88 crore electorate for 2024 general elections

NEW DELHI: India is poised to witness the world's largest electorate for the upcoming General Elections, with over 96.88 crore registered voters set to participate across the country.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has reached this milestone after months-long, intensive Special Summary Revision 2024 (SSR 2024) exercise, publishing electoral rolls in all States/UTs with a reference to January 1, 2024, as the qualifying date.

According to the ECI, this extensive effort, undertaken with meticulous planning, coordination, and active participation of political parties, has resulted in significant achievements in terms of inclusivity, health, and purity of the electoral rolls.

The ECI on Friday claimed that the electoral rolls now reflected unprecedented inclusivity, with over 96.88 crore voters registered across the country. "A remarkable increase in female voter registrations is evident, showcasing a concerted effort towards gender parity and inclusivity within the electoral framework. The Electoral Roll gender ratio has increased positively from 940 in 2023 to 948 in 2024. Over 2.63 crore new electors have been added, out of which around 1.41 crore are female electors, surpassing the newly enrolled male voters by over 15 percent," the ECI said in its press release on Friday.

More than two crore young electors in the age group of 18-29 had been added to the electoral roll. Special Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) were appointed at the constituency level to facilitate youth enrollment directly from educational institutions, fostering greater civic engagement. Approximately 88.35 lakh Persons with Disabilities (PwD) electors had been flagged in the electoral roll database, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity on polling day.

Thorough house-to-house verification resulted in the deletion of names of 1,65,76,654 deceased, permanently shifted, and duplicate electors from the rolls. The comprehensive cleanup ensured the integrity and purity of the electoral process. Special efforts had been made to achieve 100 percent registration of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG), making the electoral rolls the most inclusive to date.

"This significant achievement underscores the resilience and vibrancy of India's democratic ethos, symbolising a collective commitment to upholding the principles of free and fair elections. As the nation gears up for the General Elections 2024, this inclusive and diverse electoral roll stands as a testament to the strength of democracy and the unwavering spirit of civic participation among its citizens," the ECI said.

In adherence to Article 324 of the Constitution of India and the Representation of the People Act, 1950, the Election Commission of India conducted the SSR 2024 with the aim of achieving high-fidelity electoral rolls. The Commission prioritised inclusivity, health, purity, and transparency in the preparation of the electoral rolls, ensuring that no eligible citizen is deprived of their right to be included.

The ECI expressed gratitude for the dedication of all members of the electoral machinery and cooperation from citizens, political parties, and stakeholders in the successful conduct of the SSR 2024. Eligible unregistered citizens would still have the opportunity to enrol as voters under continuous updation up to the last date of making nominations during elections, the ECI release added.