India’s Voters Shatter Turnout Records in 2024 Polls
NEWS PRISM DELHI BUREAU
NEW DELHI: The 2024 Lok Sabha elections witnessed a record high voter turnout of 66.91%, according to the final figures released by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Over 470 million citizens exercised their franchise across the five phases of polling held between April 19th and May 17th. The voter turnout in these elections surpassed the 66.4% recorded in the 2014 polls, making it the highest participation rate in recent history. The massive electoral exercise involved over 764 million eligible voters across India’s 543 parliamentary constituencies.
Earlier on Friday, the Supreme Court refused to issue any interim directive to the ECI on an NGO’s plea seeking the upload of polling booth-wise voter turnout data on its website. The apex court adopted a “hands-off attitude” amid the ongoing elections but listed the matter for further hearing in July. The Association for Democratic Rights (ADR) had filed the original petition in 2019, seeking greater transparency in the electoral process. However, the court clarified that it was not making any observations on the merits of the issue raised by the NGO.
In this context, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, on Saturday told TOI, “Turnout data was always there in EC voter turnout app. Even a Class VI student can calculate absolute no. of votes cast with polling % & electors data released by EC. Pattern in raising unfounded doubts only when LS poll is on, must be studied”
Phase 1 Sets the Momentum
The polling exercise kicked off on April 19th with 100 constituencies spread across 18 states and union territories going to the polls. While certain constituencies like Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir saw a relatively lower 38.49% voter turnout due to regional tensions, overall the first phase recorded an impressive 66.14% polling percentage.
The highest turnouts in this phase were witnessed in the northeastern states, with Arunachal East leading at 83.31% and Lakshadweep islands at 84.16%. Voter enthusiasm also remained palpably high in southern states like Tamil Nadu, where 27 constituencies across the state recorded turnouts over 70%.
“I walked 6 kilometers to cast my vote as I believe it is the bedrock of our democracy,” said 68-year-old Parvati Ammal from Dharmapuri constituency in Tamil Nadu, which saw a staggering 81.2% polling percentage.
Phase 2 Continues the Momentum
As the baton passed to 77 constituencies for phase 2 on April 23rd, voters again turned up in large numbers. With an estimated 66.71% polling across states like Karnataka, Kerala and parts of Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh, phase 2 saw no let up in the voting zeal.
The highest turnouts were recorded in the northeastern states of Nagaon in Assam at 84.97% and Outer Manipur at 85.11%. However, the relatively lower 48.48% voting percentage in the urban centre of Hyderabad emerged as an aberration.
“We waited in line for over 6 hours but it was worth it to have our voice counted in electing our nation’s leadership,” said 27-year-old software engineer Rohit Raju, part of the long snaking queues outside polling booths in Bengaluru.
Phase 3 Breaks More Records
By the time polling concluded for the third phase on April 28th, it was evident that the 2024 elections were rewriting India’s democratic record books. An estimated 65.68% voter turnout across 93 constituencies in states like Gujarat, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal meant the high polling percentage trajectory remained intact.
Records were shattered in terms of total voter turnout with over 113 million voters exercising their franchise in this phase, making it the highest polling phase in India’s electoral history. While the urban constituency of Secunderabad saw a relatively lower 49.04% turnout, Gujarat’s tribal-dominated Valsad recorded an astonishing 72.71%.
“For our rural community, elections are a celebration of our rights and the only time our voices get truly heard,” said 42-year-old Durga Rathwa, who traveled over 20 km to vote in Valsad.
The Trend Sustains in Phase 4 & 5
Any doubts over whether Indians would sustain the high polling percentage momentum were firmly laid to rest as the final two phases panned out between May 6th and May 17th. In fact, polling percentages soared even higher during this period.
The fourth phase which covered 77 constituencies across states like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana and parts of Bihar saw an unprecedented 69.16% overall turnout, with Andhra’s Ongole constituency hitting 87.06%.
The fifth and final phase witnessed long queues across the remaining 49 constituencies as voters turned out in force till the last day. Despite sweltering heat, West Bengal saw massive turnouts exceeding 82% in constituencies like Arambagh and Bangaon. Overall, this phase recorded a robust 62.2% polling.
The epic polling exercise
As India’s mammoth 7-phase general election about to conclude after over two-moth long exercise, one aspect stood out – the people’s resolute belief in the voting process, even as some remained skeptical about Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the genuineness of the outcome. From remote villages to urban centers, rich and poor, young and old exercised their franchise through the powerful medium of voting. However, prominent activists continue to voice concerns over the EVM system, advocating for a return to ballot papers or a more robust, tamper-proof voting mechanism used in advanced Western, where EVMs are not employed. As the nation awaits the final results, the debate around EVMs and their credibility is likely to continue, despite ECI’s repeated statements and clarifications that EVMs are completely foolproof and temper-proof.