India adds 2.32 crore voters ahead of Voters' Day

Women account for 47.44 per cent of the total electorate at 36.90 crore voters and another 1.76 crore are new voters in the age group of 18 to 19 years, the Election Commission said today.

Election Commission's Director General Akshay Rout said the poll body would award states of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal on the National Voters' Day on January 25 for all- round management of elections.

Four District Electoral Officers and Superintendents of Police would also be awarded for best electoral practices.

Vice President Hamid Ansari will give away the awards to the winners at the 3rd National Voters' Day at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi.

The National Voters' Day will be marked by organising functions at 6.5 lakh locations across the country covering nearly 8.5 lakh polling stations involving around 46,000 educational institutions, Rout said.

The poll body will also provide Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) to all new voters added during summary revision, 93 lakh of whom are youth in 18-19 age group, on January 25.

Ahead of the Voters' Day, the EC is also organising a seminar, "Towards more inclusive elections: Interventions in South Asian region", in Delhi which will be attended by heads and representatives of poll bodies of all SAARC nations.

Members of the Forum of heads of election management bodies of SAARC countries, of which India is currently the head, will also meet to discuss common issues and cooperation.