Record Voter Turnout in Assam, Puducherry as Assembly Polls and Bye-elections Conclude Peacefully
Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar shows a mark of indelible ink after casting his vote at a polling booth during the Kerala Assembly Election 2026, in Keralam on Thursday.
Highest-ever participation recorded in two regions; over 5.31 crore electorate cast votes across 296 constituencies
New Delhi: Polling for the general elections to the legislative assemblies of Assam, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry, along with bye-elections in four assembly constituencies across three states, concluded largely peacefully with notable voter participation, according to the Election Commission.
Assam and Puducherry registered their highest-ever voter turnout, with participation reaching 85.38 percent and 89.83 percent respectively. This marks a significant rise from previous records of 84.67 percent in Assam (2016) and 86.19 percent in Puducherry (2011), EC said in a statement on Thursday.
Kerala recorded a turnout of 78.03 percent. Among bye-election constituencies, Nagaland reported 82.21 percent turnout, Tripura 80.04 percent, and Karnataka constituencies saw participation ranging between 68.55 percent and 68.70 percent.
Polling began at 7:00 AM and remained largely incident-free, with only a few minor disruptions reported. The Election Commission ensured 100 percent live webcasting coverage of polling stations in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry for the first time, enhancing transparency in the electoral process.
A total of 296 assembly constituencies went to polls, covering an electorate of over 5.31 crore voters. In addition, bye-elections were held in four constituencies across Karnataka, Nagaland and Tripura.
More than 2.5 lakh polling personnel were deployed across 63,084 polling stations. Mock polls were conducted before the start of voting in the presence of over 1.8 lakh polling agents representing 1,899 candidates.
The elections also witnessed participation from the international community, with 38 delegates from 22 countries observing the process under the International Election Visitors’ Programme.
Several voter-friendly initiatives were introduced, including improved voter information slips, mobile deposit facilities, clearly identifiable candidate photographs on EVM ballot papers, and a cap of 1,200 voters per polling station to streamline voting.
Special arrangements such as wheelchair access, volunteer assistance, and transport facilities were provided to ensure ease of voting for persons with disabilities.
The Election Commission noted that the turnout data remains provisional and final figures will be released after reconciliation, including service voters and postal ballots.
