Female Voters Outnumber Men In Mizoram, But This Doesn't Translate To Equal Opportunity In Politics

In what can be considered a boost to women empowerment, Mizoram's female voters have been found to officially outnumber its male voters, just ahead of the assembly polls.

As per the draft rolls published by the state election department, there are altogether 8.38 lakh electorates, of which 4.06 lakh are males and 4.31 lakh are females.

BCCL

Thus, female voters outnumbered their male counterparts by 24,545.

Assembly polls scheduled later this year

Elections for the 40 assembly seats in Mizoram are due later this year.

Aizawl district, with 12 assembly constituencies, has the highest number of voters at 2,81,192, followed by south Mizoram's Lunglei district at 98,516 and Lawngtlai at 89,749.

Hnahthial district, which was created in 2019, has the least number of electorates at 15,875.

Further, the state has 5,021 service voters, including 89 females. Service Voters refer to voters having service qualifications, such as ¨C

1. member of the Armed Forces of the Union
2. member of a force to which provisions of the Army Act 1950 have been made applicable
3. member of an Armed Police Force of a State and serving outside that state; or
4. a person employed under the Government of India, serving outside India.

The draft electoral rolls were prepared for the special summary revision of voters lists to include people attaining 18 years of age on October 1, 2023.

Still lack equality of opportunity in politics

Even in the 2018 Legislative Assembly General Elections, the number of female voters outnumbered the male voters by 19,189.

Mizoram women voters/ PTI

While their presence as voters has been significant in Mizoram, women have not been members of the legislature in great numbers.

From the formation of the Lushai Hills District Council in 1952 to 1986, until Mizoram was a Union Territory, five women were nominated and elected to the legislature.

Post 1986, the Mizoram State Legislative Assembly had only two female legislators. The only woman to become a minister was Mrs Lalhlimpuii, elected in 1987 from Mizo National Front Party.

While voting is a significant political involvement for women but voting, by itself, does not guarantee equality of opportunity in politics.

Despite that, one is hopeful that the increase in female voters will significantly impact the fate of female candidates in future elections.

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