Chandigarh: As per statistics available from Punjab Chief Electoral Officer, the overall polling percentage in Punjab Elections 2017 has been marked at a very healthy 75 per cent, the third highest ever in the history of the state.
The district-wise polling percentage is as below:
Gurdaspur: 72
Amritsar: 67
TaranTarn: 70
Kapurthala: 74
Jalandhar: 71
Hoshiarpur: 67
Nawanshahr: 72
Ropar: 71
SAS Nagar: 67
Fatehgarh Sahib: 80
Ludhiana: 73
Moga: 75
Ferozepur: 80
Muktsar: 81
Faridkot: 80
Bathinda: 76
Mansa: 81
Sangrur: 83
Barnala: 77
Patiala: 77
Pathankot: 77
Fazilka: 78
(Source: Punjab Chief Electoral Officer website)
Punjab has traditionally registered high voter turnouts in elections over the years. The voting percentage in the state has never dipped below the 64 per cent mark in the assembly elections. In 2012, the state recorded a voter turnout of 78.2 percent. The polling percentage stood at 75.45 percent in 2007.
A high voter turnout is traditionally seen as a sign of anti-incumbency. However, Punjab has often belied the paradigm and the latest this was seen was in 2012 when the Badal government returned to power despite the massive wave of polling in the sate. The 2012 polls were the first time that saw repeat of an incumbent government in the state.
However, this time around the state is witnessing a three-cornered fight what with the Aam Aadmi Party emerging as a serious contender at the hustings.
The counting of votes in the state is scheduled for March 11.