Over 6.75 lakh first-time youth voters in Assam polls

Guwahati: Over 6.75 lakh youths will cast their votes for the first time in Assam in the forthcoming Assembly elections due in April.

"In the age group of 18-19 years, there will be 6.76 lakh voters. They will be the first-time voters in the state," Assam Chief Electoral Officer Vijayendra said at a press conference here.

The state with 126 constituencies will have a total of 1.98 crore voters, of which 95 lakh are women, he said.

"Of the total number of voters, 31 per cent are under 30 years and 76 per cent are under 50 years...," Vijayendra said.

Earlier during the day, Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said Assam will go to polls in two phases, on April 4 and April 11, while counting of votes will be held on May 19.

The notification for the first phase will be out on March 11 and last date for filing of nominations will be on March 18, while a candidate can withdraw the nomination till March 21.

In the second phase, the notification will be issued on March 14, while the last date for filing of nominations will be March 21 and last date for withdrawing the same will be March 26.

"In total, we will have 24,888 polling stations. In the first phase of polling in 65 constituencies, elections will be held in 12,190 booths in 8,887 locations, while there will be 12,698 poll stations in 8,169 places in 61 constituencies in second phase," Vijayendra said.

Of the total polling stations, 12 per cent fall in urban areas, while the rest are in rural places.