The Maharashtra Assembly Elections are set to take place on November 20, 2024, starting at 7:00 AM and continuing until 6:00 PM. Voters in the queue at polling stations by 6:00 PM will be allowed to cast their ballots. Preparations for the elections are complete, with 2,21,060 ballot units ready to ensure a smooth voting process. Maharashtra is ready to witness a grand celebration of democracy. Let’s make this election a landmark event by participating in large numbers and strengthening our democratic fabric.
Key Highlights
Record Voter Turnout Expected
This year, a record 9.7 crore voters across 288 constituencies are eligible to cast their votes. Among them are 5.22 crore male voters, 4.69 crore female voters, and 6,101 third-gender voters. Pune district has the highest voter count in the state.
Empowering Women Voters
Maharashtra has 4,69,96,279 registered female voters, with five districts—Ratnagiri, Nandurbar, Gondia, Bhandara, and Sindhudurg—reporting a higher number of female voters than male voters.
Inclusivity in Voting
To ensure every voice is heard, the state has registered 6,41,425 PwD voters and 1,16,170 service voters, ensuring that all eligible citizens can exercise their democratic rights.
Candidates Contesting the Elections
A total of 4,136 candidates are competing for seats in the assembly. These include 3,771 men, 363 women, and 2 third-gender candidates.
Election Infrastructure
Preparedness of Voting Machines
The state has ensured the availability of 2,21,600 ballot units, 1,21,886 control units, and 1,32,094 VVPAT machines. These resources have been distributed across the polling stations, with some reserved for training and awareness programs.
Polling Stations
A total of 1,00,186 polling stations have been established across Maharashtra, including 42,604 urban polling stations and 57,582 rural polling stations. Pune has the highest number of polling stations, with 8,462, followed by Mumbai Suburbs, Thane, Nashik, and Nagpur.
Special Arrangements
Encouraging Urban Voter Turnout
To boost participation in urban areas, 1,181 polling stations have been set up in high-rise buildings and cooperative housing societies. Additionally, 210 polling booths have been established in slum areas to ensure accessibility for all voters.
Focus on Tribal and Remote Areas
Special facilities have been arranged for voters in tribal and remote regions, particularly in Gadchiroli, Gondia, Nandurbar, Dhule, and Amravati. The number of polling booths in these areas has been significantly increased to ensure no voter is left behind.
Election Essentials
To mark voters’ participation, 2,20,520 bottles of indelible ink have been made available. This ensures the integrity of the voting process and prevents duplicate voting.
