The first phase of polling in the Lok Sabha elections saw a voter turnout of around 62% until 9 pm in 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union Territories, the phase with the largest number of seats in the seven-phase 2024 polls.
According to Election Commission of India data, turnout in the 102 Lok Sabha constituencies of Phase I and the 92 Assembly constituencies of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, where state legislature polls were held simultaneously, stood at 62.37% as of 9 pm.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said the first phase of polling had gone off satisfactorily. “Thanks to the voters and the polling personnel for their hard work over two years, the polling in the first phase augurs well for the next phases,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X: “First phase, great response! Thank you to all those who have voted today. Getting excellent feedback from today’s voting. It’s clear that people across India are voting for NDA in record number.”
In Tamil Nadu’s 39 seats, the turnout until 9 pm was 65.19% — the 2019 turnout in the state had been 72.44%. Uttarakhand’s five seats saw a turnout of 54.06% as of 9 pm, compared to 61.88% in 2019.
As of 9 pm, Tripura, where votes were cast for one seat, had the highest turnout for any state (80.17%), followed by West Bengal (77.57%) which had three seats in the fray. Bihar, which had four seats in the first phase, had the lowest turnout for any state (48.50%) — in 2019, the four seats of Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada and Jamui had an average turnout of 54%.
In a statement at the close of polling, the EC said: “Polling for the first phase of the General Elections 2024 recorded high voter turnout despite the heat wave. Polling remains largely peaceful with voters from various walks participating enthusiastically in a dazzling display of civic responsibility and pride.”
