Chandigarh: Panjab University will head into this year’s student council elections with a larger electorate than last year and a voter profile that highlights some notable contrasts. The tentative electoral rolls show 16,468 voters, up from 16,124 in 2025, with 9,000 women, 7,467 men and one transgender voter spread across 191 polling booths.The rolls show 9,000 women voters, 2,041 more than the 6,959 reflected in the gender-wise data available last year, though a direct comparison is not possible as the earlier figures did not cover the entire electorate.Women now outnumber men by 1,533 voters, giving them a clear numerical edge in the electorate. However, despite being the largest voting group on campus, there is no woman in the contest for the president’s post this year. Last year’s presidential race had three women candidates.The electoral rolls also underscore the continued dominance of UIET as the university’s largest voting bloc. With 2,670 voters, the University Institute of Engineering and Technology accounts for more than one-sixth of the total electorate. Yet, it does not have a candidate contesting any of the four principal office-bearer posts, namely president, vice-president, secretary or joint secretary.UILS, the second largest constituency with 1,950 voters, has a direct stake in the presidential contest through ASAP candidate Aadil Brar. He is the only presidential candidate from either of the university’s two largest voting blocs.The Department of Laws has 1,064 voters, while UIAMS and the Dr SS Bhatnagar University Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology have 646 and 643 voters, respectively.The numbers indicate that some of the most influential voter segments on campus may play a decisive role despite lacking direct representation in the top-post races. While UIET remains the single largest vote bank, none of its students are contesting the four key positions. Similarly, the majority presence of women voters is not reflected in the presidential field.The voter list remains tentative and may undergo changes before final publication. However, with the electorate expanding and the number of polling booths increasing to 191, the broad contours of the contest are already visible, with a larger voter base, stronger female participation and significant constituencies going into the elections without candidates in the top races.Inside the PU Voter ListTotal voters: 16,468 (16,124 in 2025)Women voters: 9,000Men voters: 7,467Transgender voter: 1Polling booths: 191Largest constituency: UIET (2,670 voters)Second-largest constituency: UILS (1,950 voters)Department of Laws: 1,064 votersUIET has no candidate for any of the four office-bearer postsAadil Brar is the only presidential candidate from the two largest voting blocs
