Maharashtra's Updated Voter List Reveals Over 9.7 Crore Voters and Candidate Details Ahead of Elections

Maharashtra's electoral rolls, updated on October 30, reveal over 9.7 crore registered voters, including 22,22,704 individuals aged 18-19, according to an Election Commission official. The total comprises 5,00,22,739 men and 4,49,96,279 women. Additionally, the state has 6,101 transgender voters and 6.41 lakh persons with disabilities.

Assembly Elections and Candidates

The upcoming assembly elections will see 4,140 candidates contesting across 288 seats on November 20. Notably, Shahada in Nandurbar district has the fewest candidates at three, while Nanded North has the most with 33. To encourage voter participation, the Election Commission plans to establish polling stations in strategic locations.

Polling Stations and Equipment

In Mumbai, Thane, and Pune, 1,181 polling stations will be set up in high-rise buildings and residential complexes. An additional 210 stations will be located in slum areas. The state is well-prepared with sufficient electronic voting machines (EVMs) for the election process.

For the state's polling needs, there are 1,00,186 polling stations equipped with 2,21,600 ballot units. Additionally, there are 1,21,886 control units and 1,32,094 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) available to ensure a smooth voting process.

Election Oversight

To oversee the elections across Maharashtra's 288 assembly seats, there are designated officials including 142 general observers. The team also includes 41 police observers and 71 expenditure supervisors to ensure fair conduct during the elections.

The Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra, S Chockalingam, emphasized that all necessary arrangements are in place for the smooth conduct of elections. He assured that there are adequate resources to manage the voting process efficiently.

Vote counting is scheduled for November 23. This marks a crucial step in determining the outcome of the assembly elections in Maharashtra. The results will reflect the choices of millions of voters across the state.