The Election Commission (EC) unveiled the final figures for the first and second phases, indicating turnout rates of 66.1% and 66.7%, respectively, a few days post the completion of polling. This disclosure coincided with opposition parties’ inquiries into the delay in data release.
Back in 2019, the voter participation stood at 69.4% for the initial phase and 69.2% for the subsequent phase, yet the EC hasn’t divulged the precise number of votes cast during these periods.
Phase-wise voter turnout data
The initial phase, covering 102 seats, occurred on April 19, while the subsequent phase for 88 seats took place on April 26. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the commission had promptly shared phase-wise voter turnout data, including exact figures.
According to EC’s data, a higher percentage of men voted in both phases compared to women. In the first phase, 66.2% of males and 66.1% of females exercised their voting rights. In the second phase, nearly 67% of males and 66.4% of females participated in the electoral process.
Regional contrasts in voter turnout
The statistics unveiled Lakshadweep with the highest voter turnout (84.2%) in the initial phase, contrasting with Nawada in Bihar, which recorded the lowest turnout at 43.2%. Among the populous states, West Bengal led with 81.9% polling for three seats, followed closely by Tamil Nadu at 81.5%.
Conversely, Bihar registered the lowest turnout at 49.3% for five seats among the 13 states and union territories. Notably, seven out of the 102 seats in the first phase witnessed over 80% voting, while three experienced less than 50% polling.
Female turnout surpasses male in key regions
In the initial phase, 11 states and union territories, including West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, and Meghalaya, saw higher female voter turnout compared to males. In 43 out of 102 seats, women voters outnumbered men.
During the second phase, Manipur recorded the highest turnout at 84.8%, while Uttar Pradesh, with eight seats up for polls, witnessed the lowest at 55.2%. Nagaon in Assam recorded the highest voting percentage at 85%, whereas Mathura in Uttar Pradesh saw the lowest turnout at 49.4%. In 31 seats, female voters outnumbered males. Interestingly, all five seats in the state of Flar Thai witnessed a higher female turnout compared to males.
