Maharashtra Election 2024: On October 15, while announcing the poll dates for Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections, Chief Electoral Commissioner (CEC), Rajiv Kumar blamed ‘urban apathy’ for the lack of enthusiasm among voters that leads to low turnout during elections.
The CEC said the commission deliberately scheduled the polling days in Maharashtra and Jharkhand in the middle of the week to ensure better turnout. Kumar flagged the issue of low turnout in urban centres including Mumbai and Pune in Maharashtra.
Mumbai, like all of Maharashtra, votes on Wednesday, November 20. And, as pointed out by the CEC, voters have not been enthusiastic in past elections, in terms of exercising their franchise.
Mumbai has historically struggled with low voter turnout. In recently held polls, however, Mumbai has shown some improvement in turnout by crossing the 50 per cent mark. In the 2019 assembly elections, for example, Mumbai recorded a voter turnout of 50.67 per cent. The turnout was 51.21 per cent in 2014 assembly polls.
Before 2014, Mumbai would struggle to even touch 50 per cent turnout in assembly polls. The voter turnout in 2009 state polls for Mumbai was 46.1 per cent. In 2004 assembly polls, it was 48.4 per cent and in 1999 assembly polls Mumbai recorded 44.9 per cent voter turnout.
Among steps by ECI, officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have been assigned with the responsibility of monitoring the voter turnout this election. In the past, elections were monitored by the district administration.
For the first time, the poll panel has appointed the municipal commissioner as the District Election Officer for both districts of Mumbai – Mumbai Urban (Island City) and Mumbai Suburban.