SHILLONG, April 12 - Women voters in Meghalaya were more enthusiastic than males in this Lok Sabha election which has seeen one of the best polling percentages recorded in the Lok Sabha elections � a healthy 71.41 per cent.
According to the Election department, the best ever voting percentage recorded was in the 1998 Lok Sabha election when 74.38 per cent voters turned out. However, during that election the Assembly elections were also held simultaneously.
�This is the best standalone voting percentage in the State�s history. The voting percentage is the second highest in the State�s history,� Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor said today. This year�s percentage was way ahead compared to 2014 (68 per cent) and 2009 (63 per cent).
Although the voting percentage increased, Shillong seat still recorded a low 65.49, which was compensated by a high 81.30 per cent in Tura which brought up the overall percentage. The CEO said that in urban areas the voting percentage has increased.
In both the seats, women voters came out in large numbers and their voting percentage was 68.71 compared to 62.13 per cent males for the Shillong seat. Similarly, in Tura, women voters outnumbered males and their overall percentage was 82.42. Male voters accounted for 80.21 per cent.
Meanwhile, re-polling has been recommended in Kanarchar polling station under Selsella constituency in which Assembly bypolls was also held. There was a mix-up with the voting machines. The Election department has also recommended counting of VVPAT slips in six other constituencies in which confusions surfaced due to human error, the CEO said.
