New Delhi: The total number of registered voters in the country has increased to 96.88 crores as of January 1, 2024, compared to 89.6 crores at the time of the last general elections held in 2019 and the voter club of above 100 years of age is 2,18,442.

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the total electorate in the country as per finally published Electoral rolls regarding 01.01.2024 as the qualifying date is 968.8 million (96.88 crores) compared to 896 million (89.6 crores) in 2019. This marks an increase of more than 72.8 million (7.28 crore) electors.

Over 18.4 million or 1.84 crore electors are in the 18-19 years age group.

Electors in the age group of 18-19 years constitute 1.89 percent of total electors.

The number of electors enrolled as "Third Gender" (written as TG) is 48,044.

Of the total voters (96.88 crore), 49.7 crore are male voters while female voters number is 47.1 crore.

Parliament amended the Representation of the People Act, 1950, allowing the enrollment of Indian citizens living overseas as electors. 1,18,439 overseas electors have been enrolled in the current electoral rolls, the ECI said while announcing the schedule for the Lok Sabha 2024 elections.

There are 19,08,194 service electors in the electoral rolls.

There is a total of 88,35,449 People With Disabilities (PwD) all over the country in which there exist 52,65,076 male PwD electors, 35,69,933 female PwD electors, and 440 Third Gender PwD electors.

As of 10th March 2024, there are a total of 81,87,999 Senior Citizen electors above 85 years and 2,18,442 electors above 100 years.

To maximize participation from all strata of society and improve the health of the electoral roll, the Commission has made all possible efforts to ensure maximum enrolment of vulnerable groups like PwDs, third gender, and sex workers by collaborating with reputed CSOs.

For example, it engaged with NACO (National AIDS control organisation) to ensure maximum enrolment of sex workers.

The Commission has focussed on the enrolment of young voters especially those who attained the qualifying age i.e. 18 years on 1st January 2024 & 1st April 2024.

the polling stations have been rationalized with due diligence.

Every polling station has been physically visited by senior officers, and shifting of polling stations to new and better infrastructure buildings has also been considered after following due procedures, the Commission stated.

The Commission enforces the assured minimum facilities along with accessibility-friendly infrastructure for PwDs and senior citizens in the polling stations, CEOs/DEOs have been directed to create permanent infrastructure such as ramps at the polling stations.

(Wit UNI inputs)