Polling for the assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and the first phase of polling in West Bengal took place today, with both states seeing record turnouts. As per the Election Commission, voter turnout in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections and the first phase of West Bengal elections were the highest ever since Independence, with 84.69% and 91.78% participation, respectively. The ECI described the response as exceptional, surpassing previous records.
In Tamil Nadu, the overall turnout stood at 84.69 per cent, with male voters at 83.57 per cent, female voters at 85.76 per cent, and third gender voters at 60.49 per cent. This comfortably exceeds the previous high of 78.29 per cent recorded in the 2011 Assembly elections.
West Bengal’s Phase-I polling saw an even higher turnout of 91.78 per cent, with males at 90.92 per cent and females at a remarkable 92.69 per cent. The previous record for the state was 84.72 per cent in 2011. Data remains provisional as figures from several polling stations are yet to be updated on ECINET.
Notably, these numbers are as per a statement issued by ECI, but the numbers continue to rise as the data keeps getting updated. As per the ECINET app, the numbers at the time of publishing this report for Tamil Nadu and West Bengal (phase 1) are 85.13% and 92.59%.
Voting has been remarkably high during the current assembly elections, partly because of the deletion of non-existent and duplicate voters under the SIR process. Earlier this month, Assam and Puducherry had also recorded the highest voting on 9th April. Assam recorded a voter turnout of 85.96%, while the figure for Puducherry is 89.85%.
Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr S.S. Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi, monitored the polling process through 100 per cent live webcasting from polling stations in both major states. Presiding Officers uploaded turnout data on ECINET immediately after the close of polling, ensuring swift dissemination of trends.
The Commission implemented several voter-friendly measures, including colour photographs of candidates on EVM ballot papers, Mobile Deposit Facility, improved Voter Information Slips, and a cap of 1,200 electors per polling station. Special arrangements such as wheelchairs, volunteers, and transport facilities were made to assist Persons with Disabilities (PwD).
