PUNE: More than 12.57 lakh first-time and young voters are going to influence the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra.

The state boasts a total of 9.24 crore voters, comprising 4.80 crore male voters, 4.43 crore female voters, and 5,610 third-gender voters on the electoral roll. Additionally, 5,710 voters are registered as overseas voters, with an additional 1.17 lakh identified as service voters.

Those in the 18–19-year-old youths have registered as new voters and registered to cast their maiden ballots in the election for the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra.

According to the voter data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI), young and middle-aged voters collectively constitute over 50 percent of the voter list.

An official from the Election Commission stated that the electoral body has implemented several initiatives aimed at encouraging college-goers and young individuals to register as voters by completing the necessary documentation. "We took the voter registration drive to college campuses and social gatherings and appealed to people to get registered as voters and exercise their rights," the official said.