Haryana creates history, records highest-ever voter turnout of 73 percent

Chandigarh: History was created in Haryana on Wednesday as over 73 per cent of the 1.63 crore eligible voters exercised their franchise, surpassing the previous high of 72.65 percent in 1967.

“More than 73 per cent voters had cast their votes. However, the final percentage figure was likely to go up as voters were still inside polling stations and all figures were being compiled,” Haryana’s Chief Electoral Officer, Shrikant Walgad told PTI.

The Election Department officials said that those voters who had entered the polling station by 6 pm will also be allowed to cast their vote.

Close to 6 PM, healthy voter turnout was witnessed at Fatehabad district (78 pc), Hisar (73 pc), Jind (75 pc), Kaithal (79 pc), Kurukshetra (78 pc), Mewat (76 pc), Rohtak (70 pc) and Yamunanagar (79 pc).

However, polling was not that high in Faridabad district (57 pc), Gurgaon (64 pc) and Panchkula (66 pc).

Amid tight security, polling commenced in all the 90 Assembly seats at 7 AM to decide the fate of 1,351 candidates. Counting of votes will take place on 19 October.

Over 1.63 crore voters including over 87 lakh women were eligible to cast their vote in the polls, in which stakes are high for ruling Congress, BJP and INLD.

In 2009 polls, total polling of 72.37 percent had been recorded.

In 1967, maximum polling of 72.65 percent had taken place while in 1968 minimum polling of 57.26 percent was registered.

Similarly, in Assembly elections of 1972 total percentage of polling was 70.46 percent in Haryana.

In 1977, the total polling percentage was 64.6 percent, in 1982 it was 69.87 percent, in 1987 total polling percentage was 71.24 percent, in 1991 it was 65.86 percent, 70.54 percent in 1996, 69.01 percent in 2000 and 71.96 percent in 2005.

2014 Lok Sabha polls registered 71.86 percent polling.

PTI