Fri Dec 27 13:01:42 UTC 2024: ## Kerala’s Women Voter Turnout Above National Average, But Ranks Low Nationally

**Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 27, 2024** – Kerala’s women voter turnout in the 18th Lok Sabha elections, while exceeding the national average, placed the state relatively low in national rankings, according to a new Election Commission of India (ECI) report.

The report, released Thursday, revealed that 71.86% of Kerala’s 1.43 crore women electors cast their votes. This ranks Kerala 13th among states and 17th overall. While Kerala boasts the highest percentage of women in its electorate (51.56%) nationally, after Puducherry, its overall voter turnout of 72.04% and women’s participation lagged behind states like Assam (81.71%), Andhra Pradesh (80.3%), and Himachal Pradesh (72.55%). Lakshadweep had the highest overall women’s turnout (85.46%).

Interestingly, women’s votes constituted 52.09% of the total votes polled in Kerala. Despite this, a significant number of women candidates (18 out of 25) forfeited their deposits.

Kerala also led the nation in the number of overseas electors (89,839), but only a small fraction (2,670) cast their votes. This turnout, however, was the highest among states.

The data highlights a disparity between Kerala’s high proportion of women electors and its relatively lower ranking in women’s voter participation compared to other states. The ECI report provides valuable insights into voting patterns and areas for potential improvement in electoral engagement.

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