The 2019 Lok Sabha elections are poised to record the highest voter turnout in the history of Independent India. Thus far, the previous General Elections had recorded the highest turnout with a voting percentage of 66.40%. Previous to that, the record was held by the 1984-85 elections which had recorded a voter turnout of 64.01%.
Thus far, the 2019 General Elections have recorded higher voter turnouts in 3 of the 4 phases prior to the 5th phase. The first phase recorded a turnout of 69.5% vs 68.77 in 2014 for corresponding seats, the second phase recorded a turnout of 69.44% vs 69.62%, showing a slight drop. The third phase showed a turnout of 68.40% vs 67.15% while the fourth recorded the same of 65.51% vs 63.05% in 2014.
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This time around, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been urging people to come out and vote in large numbers. Numerous celebrities, too, have joined in the campaign upon being requested by the Prime Minister. And as figures for the first four phases show, people have been coming out in large numbers to exercise their democratic right.
As of the time of writing this report, the official app of the ECI showed an estimated voter turnout for the fifth phase to be 62.16% and can be expected to go higher. The article will be updated with official numbers as and when they are released by the ECI.