Mumbai: Women voters will play an important role in deciding the fate of the candidates in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections to be held in five phases in Maharashtra this year. Because the number of women voters has increased in 2024 as compared to 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019. In 2019, the number of women voters was 4 crore 22 lakh 79 thousand 192. In 2024, this number has reached 4 crore 44 lakh 16 thousand 814 lakh. In 2019, the total number of voters including service voters is stated to be 8 crore 86 lakh 76 thousand 946.
There are 4 crore 64 lakh 25 thousand 348 male voters in this. Whereas there were 4 crore 22 lakh 79 thousand 192 women voters and 2 thousand 406 third caste voters. The total number of voters till April 5, 2024 is said to be 9 crore 26 lakh 37 thousand 230. There are 4 crore 86 lakh 04 thousand 798 male voters in this. Of these, there are 4 crore 44 lakh 16 thousand 814 women voters and 5 thousand 618 third caste voters.
There was no separate registration of male and female voters in 2004. Therefore, a total of 3 crore 42 lakh 63 thousand 317 voters were registered that year. In voter registration conducted for both the 2009 and 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the number of women voters was less than that of men. However, the number of women voters has increased in the voter registration for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. According to the 2011 census, there were 925 females for every 1000 males. In 2014, the ratio of women in the electoral roll was 889 women per 1000 men. In 2019, there were 911 females per 1000 males. There is a significant improvement in the number of women per 1000 men to 923 in 2024.
The Election Commission of India is implementing various activities for women voter awareness through the SVEEP (Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation) program. The important objective of this campaign is to increase the number of women voters. For this, cooperation of Anganwadi workers, Asha workers, nurses, women self-help groups, non-government organizations etc. is being taken to increase the registration of women voters. In addition, women are being encouraged for voter registration through women leading in various fields including industry, education, social, literature, art and culture.
