Women voters in Puducherry turned up in greater numbers than men in the recently-concluded Lok Sabha election.
Women outnumber men in the Union Territory with regard to the electorate. They have also consistently been ahead of men in voting in terms of percentage. There are 9,73,410 voters — 4,59,267 men, 5,13,798 women and 96 others.
This year, while the overall turnout for the Union Territory stood at 81.19%, it was 81.58% among women as against 80.75% among men.
According to polling data, women’s participation was higher than the overall turnout in Assembly segments such as Mannadipet, Oussudu, Lawspet, Kalapet, Uppalam, Nellithope, Embalam, Bahour and Thirunallar.
Margin of difference
The highest margins of difference between the percentage of voting by women and men was witnessed in Lawspet (82-79), Uppalam (83.64- 81), Nellithope (83.91-81.49), Karaikal North (76.31-75.72) and Karaikal South (74.92-73.19). The percentage of turnout of women was marginally higher than that of men in segments such as Orleanpet (78.92-78.43), Mudaliarpet (80.52-79.30), Kamaraj Nagar (74.75-74), Kalapet (84.58-84), Muthialpet (77.87-77.11) and Thirunallar (82.37- 81).
Men turned up in greater numbers in segments such as Embalam, Oussudu, Thattanchavady and Raj Bhavan.
“Puducherry was always known for high voter turnout,” said Chief Electoral Officer V. Candavelou.
While this year’s turnout may be slightly lower than that of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections (82.14), Mr. Candavelou reckons that among the factors that lowered the overall polling record were the low voter turnout in Mahe (65%) and relatively low polling percentages in some urban Assembly segments because of extended holidays close to April 18.
“Overall though, a polling percentage of above 80 is indicative of good electoral participation,” he said.
Historically, participation of women had been higher than that of men.
In the 2016 Assembly elections, 85.44% women had cast their votes against 82.46% men.
Even if you turn the clock back to the 2011 general elections, women maintained higher level of turnout with 86.97% (3,65,161) of them exercising their franchise as against 83.97% men (3,28,107).
