Lok Sabha elections 2024: Heat wave takes toll on voter turnout in Kerala

Congress candidate Shashi Tharoor casts his vote at the election booth located in Cotton Hill School, Thiruvananthapuram; (right) Actor and BJP candidate Suresh Gopi casting his vote at Thiruvananthapuram

Despite the heat waves in Kerala claiming four lives including a polling agent, voters in the state braved the elements and came out of their homes and offices to exercise their franchise on Friday in all the 20 constituencies. The voting percentage has dropped compared to previous general elections. However, even as the authorities are in the process of crunching the numbers and the final picture may emerge only on Saturday, the latest available data puts the voter turnout at 70.22 per cent.

Interestingly, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had already cautioned about heat waves from April 24 to April 26, as temperature had almost touched 41 degrees. And on April 26 the temperature varied between 36 to 38 degrees, in some parts of Kerala. The state disaster management had cautioned the public at large to take precautions to prevent heatstroke.

A first time voter felicitated with a pepper sapling by district administration of Wayanad

70.22 per cent turn out till 7.30 pm

According to senior state election officials, based on the data made available from all the 25,231 polling stations across the state of Kerala till 7.30 pm, the turnout was reported as 70.22 per cent. Interestingly, Wayanad district recorded 72.71 per cent, followed by Thrissur 71.91 per cent and Thiruvananthapuram recorded 66.41 per cent voter turnout till the time of going to press.

"We are still in the process of accumulating data, and the actual percentage would be ready only by Saturday and the percentage is most probably expected to go up," the official said.

Actor and BJP candidate Suresh Gopi waits in a queue at the polling centre in Thiruvananthapuram; (right) An elderly woman proudly displays her inked finger in Wayanad

Kerala, interestingly, had registered a voter turnout of 77.68 per cent with a total of 2,03,12,833 votes polled in 2019, which was higher than the 73.94 per cent voting reported in 2014 General Elections.

Technical glitches

When asked if there were any untoward incidents or any technical glitches, the official said, "Voting across the state went peacefully, though there were some technical glitches at some polling stations, but the issues were resolved. No untoward incidents have been reported." And on the demise of four people, the official said, "It was all natural death, we are awaiting the reports."

BJP candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar, registered as voter in Bengaluru, poses for a selfie with a voter outside a polling booth in Thiruvananthapuram

From ground zero

"I will vote for sure" as part of the campaign conducted by SVEEP (Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation) Wayanad, the first time voter, was given a surprise gift of pepper sapling for being the first voter at the polling booth number 112, Wayanad. Meanwhile, BJP candidate from Thrissur Suresh Gopi cast his vote, Congress candidate Shashi Tharoor cast his vote in Thiruvananthapuram. Both Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who is contesting from Thiruvananthapuram and Annie Raja, who is contesting as CPI candidate from Wayanad could not cast their votes, as Chandrasekhar is a registered voter in Bangalore and while Raja is a voter in Delhi. However, two of them ensured that they were in the constituency and encouraged voters by visiting polling booths. Wayanad recorded 72.71 per cent (71.69 per cent voting till 6pm) 7.30 pm and Thiruvananthapuram recorded 66.41 per cent

First Vote and Black Pepper

An official said that black pepper stands as the emblem of Wayanad's pride! First Vote embodies the essence of our democratic journey! Pepper is the pride of Wayanad!

"With the slogan 'I will vote for sure', as part of the campaign conducted by SVEEP Wayanad, Booth 112 of Government Higher Secondary School, Tharodu, Wayanad and SVEEP representative Manoj Kananchery's handed over the pepper sapling to maiden voter Govindu Molu. It is the sight of young voters who came to cast their first vote with enthusiasm and became the pride and excitement of the democratic process all over the district," the official said.

The Pride Booth in Thiruvananthapuram was set up to encourage transgender voters

Voters given Vegetable seeds

At Poomala polling station (Sultan Bathery constituency), Wayanad, which was manned by all women polling staff, an elderly woman welcomed the voters by giving them vegetable seeds. The all women voting booth had special rest rooms, breast feeding centres and mini Anganwadi for the children.

"Interestingly tribal women belonging to the Kurumba tribe, along with other indigenous groups like the Irula and Mudugar, enthusiastically visited polling stations and cast their votes. Kathy, one such tribal woman, was spotted taking a selfie at a selfie point made outside the polling booth 47, Azizi L P School at Cheloor - Thrissileri, village Mananthavady in Wayanad.

‘Pride Movement booth' at Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram district administration and SVEEP Thiruvananthapuram have implemented the Pride Campaign targeting transgender voters, a first of its kind initiative in the state. "Booth 69 Fort Mission Girls' School has the highest number of transgender voters in the district. The district administration transformed the booth into a rainbow booth symbolising a model polling booth for transgender voters," pointed out an official.

Thiruvananthapuram district administration has been planning a fair, inclusive and accessible election. The Pride Campaign has been implemented targeting transgender voters under the aegis of Thiruvananthapuram district collector. Along with the help of the department of social justice department, NGO Daleview, the district administration had conducted an awareness programme for transgender voters. The debate program organised by the district collector for the transgender voters had also gained a lot of attention. Thiruvananthapuram SVEEP has been working with the aim of making the polling percentage of transgender voters from 39per cent to 100per cent in the 2019-2021 elections.

The number of transgender voters in the district has risen from 55 to 94 as a result of special voter enrollment camps in Attingal, Thiruvananthapuram. With 367 transgender voters in the state, 94 transgender voters in Thiruvananthapuram may seem significantly high. The District Collector has issued a letter to each transgender voter inviting all transgender voters to vote in the election as part of the district's 'Rainbow Campaign'.

4
No. of people who died from heat wave