Jaipur, Sep 8 (IANS) The first major electoral test for Jaipur after the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls will take place on September 11, with 2,433,121 voters eligible to cast their ballots across 150 municipal wards. The revised voter list has added around 2.5 lakh voters, significantly changing the electoral landscape ahead of the civic body elections.
With the administration targeting a voter turnout of 90 per cent to 95 per cent, the numbers could become crucial in closely contested wards.
At a 90 per cent turnout, Jaipur could record around 2.19 million votes, while a 95 per cent turnout would push the figure to approximately 2.31 million.
That seemingly small five-percentage-point increase would translate into nearly 122,000 additional votes. In several wards, these additional votes could make the difference between victory and defeat.
The administration is closely monitoring voter participation, as even a 1-2 per cent change in turnout within an individual ward could significantly alter the electoral arithmetic. The turnout will also provide an indication of how the revised electoral rolls following the SIR have affected voter participation at the ground level.
The challenge for the administration is therefore twofold: Ensuring a free, fair and peaceful election while also encouraging maximum voter participation.
Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will remain available at polling stations to assist voters with identification and eligibility-related issues.
Another notable feature of this election is the growing presence of young voters. Gen-Z voters account for nearly 23 per cent of Jaipur’s electorate, giving first-time and young voters the potential to influence the outcome in several wards.
Political parties and candidates are consequently focussing on women, young voters and first-time electors as they mobilise supporters for polling day.
The civic election will see 723 candidates contesting across 150 wards. While several wards are witnessing direct contests between two candidates, some have a crowded field. Ward 62 has the highest number of candidates, with 13 contenders in the fray.
With polling day approaching, candidates and political parties are concentrating on booth-level mobilisation and ensuring that their supporters turn out to vote.
District Election Officer Sandesh Nayak said that all necessary preparations for the local body elections have been completed. He said voter-awareness campaigns are being conducted continuously in accordance with Election Commission directives to encourage maximum participation.
Nayak appealed to voters to participate enthusiastically in the “festival of democracy”, reach their polling stations on time and cast their votes without fear.
He also urged voters to encourage their family members, neighbours and people in their communities to exercise their franchise.
With a larger electorate after the SIR, a high proportion of young voters and a turnout target of up to 95 per cent, Jaipur’s civic elections could be decided not only by who wins the campaign but also by who succeeds in bringing voters to the polling booth.
–IANS
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