Punjab set the record for highest voter turnout in 1967 elections with 71.13%. Not only this, that year saw Punjab churning out the highest voter turnout of the whole country. In 1967, India recorded a voter turnout of 61.04%. Lowest voter turnout ever recorded in 1992, when militants boycotted the elections in the presence of increasing terror activity, and to protest the government at the time. A voter turnout of 23.96 % was recorded.
In 2024, Punjab voters are very enthusiastic for casting their vote as this year recorded the highest amount of electors ever. 2.14 Crore voters of Punjab will go out and vote on 24,451 Polling Stations on June 1. There are several incentivising initiatives being undertaken by the Election Commission to encourage voter turnout as well. All major political parties will be contesting the elections solo for the first time. BJP and SAD have been contesting the elections in an alliance and will be contesting the elections solo for the first time since 1996.
Not only this, apart from the 4 big parties, there are independents candidates banking on the Panthak Sikh vote. Radical sikh preacher Amritpal Singh is contesting the elections from Sri Khadoor Sahib. Sarbjit Singh Khalsa, son of Indira Gandhi’s killer Beant Singh, will be contesting the elections in Faridkot. Both of these candidates are addressing several Panthak issues that are not addressed in the major parties’ manifestos.
Here is the voter turnout of LS elections in Punjab:
1967:71.13%
1971: 59.90%
1977: 70.14%
1980: 62.65%
1985: 62.37%
1989: 62.67%
1992: 23.96%
1996: 62.25%
1998: 60.07%
1999: 56.11%
2004: 63.58%
2009: 69.78%
2014: 70.89%
2019: 65.96