Ladakh PC records 69.62 (Approx) percent voter turnout in Phase 5 Lok Sabha Polls

Leh, May 21, 2024: Ladakh successfully conducted the Lok Sabha Elections, 2024 in the 5^th phase on May 20. Ladakh, the largest constituency in the country in terms of area, witnessed a 69.62% (Approx) voter turnout excluding the Service Voters, Absentee Voter Essential Services (AVES), Absentee Voter Senior Citizens (AVSC) and Absentee Voter Person with Disabilities (AVPD) with 64.9 % estimated turnout in Leh district and 74.0% turnout in Kargil district. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Ladakh witnessed a voter turnout of 71.05% after including service voters.

The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) along with the First Lady, Smt Neelam Mishra, cast their vote at the Skara Yokma Polling Station in the 5th Phase of the Lok Sabha elections on June 20.

Terming voting during the elections as a parv(festival), the HLG expressed his happiness to see the electoral process being celebrated festively in Ladakh. Commending the officials from Ladakh for conducting the elections effectively, he stated that free and fair elections are one of the major pillars of democracy.

The HLG also wished that our democracy should remain intact, Ladakh should continue to prosper and move ahead on the path of development, the Ladakhi youth should get every opportunity to work for the development of Ladakh, women should be given priority in society and people from the lower class should get opportunities to prosper in life.

This year, three candidates are contesting for the lone parliamentary seat – Adv Tashi Gyalson, CEC LAHDC Leh as BJP candidate, Tsering Namgyal, Councilor Lower Leh LAHDC Leh, as Congress candidate from Leh district respectively and Haji Haneefa Jaan, Independent candidate from Kargil district. 

A total of 298 polling stations were set up across Leh district, including 10 model polling stations ,75 Pink Polling Stations and 1 PWD managed Polling Station.

SVEEP initiatives were conducted in full swing ahead of the elections across Ladakh to encourage all to cast their vote, with special emphasis on first-time voters. Various arrangements were made for the convenience of all voters such as facilities of drinking water, bathrooms, help desks, ramp access, and wheelchairs among others.

The Postal Voting of Absentee Voters of Essential Services (AVES), provisioned by Election Commission of India began on May 13 and ended on May 15. Absentee Voting Facility for people belonging to the class of senior citizen (AVSC), defined as electors above 85 years of age or person with disability (AVPD), persons having benchmark disability certificate (Not less than 40% of a specified disability) was conducted from May 11 to May 17.

Eleven zones conducted postal voting for absentee voters and polling teams were sent to various subdivision including Durbuk, Nyoma, Khaltse, Nubra and Leh for conducting vote of absentee voters (AVES). Similarly, postal voting of Absentee Voters of Essential Services (AVES) was set up in 5 locations in Leh district. The centers were Auditorium Hall, near DC Office in Leh, Tehsil Office in Nyoma, SDM Office in Khaltse, ZEO Office in Tangste and 1st Floor SDM Office in Diskit.