Finance
The Election Commission of India (ECI) said on Sunday that over eight crore voters will exercise their franchise in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 20, along with polling for 35 Assembly constituencies in the Odisha Legislative Assembly.
“During the fifth phase, at least 8.95 crore voters would exercise their franchise. Approximately 94,732 polling booths have been put up for voters. The ECI stated that there are over 8.95 crore voters, including 4.69 crore men, 4.26 crore women, and 5,409 third-gender votes.
The commission stated that there are around 7.81 lakh registered 85+ years old voters, 24,792 voters over 100 years, and 7.03 lakh PwD voters for the fifth phase who have been given the choice to vote from the comfort of their homes.
“In the first four phases about 66.95 per cent voter turnout has been recorded,” the ECI said.
The election commission said that a total of 216 international border check posts and 565 inter-state border check posts have also been set up to keep a strict vigil on any illicit flow of liquor, drugs, cash and freebies.
The commission has also provided 12 alternatives to the voter ID card (EPIC) for identification verification at polling locations.
The final and seventh phases of the Lok Sabha elections will be place on June 1, with vote counting slated for June 4.
