Counting of votes inWest Bengal,Tamil Nadu,Assam,KeralaandPuducherryafter a riveting high-voltage contest is taking place from 8 AM onwards today. The elections in these four states and one Union Territory were held in April while the results -- crucial for prominent ruling regional parties like the TMC and DMK as well as the BJP, Congress and the Left -- unfolds today.
The exercise will begin at 8 am, starting with the postal ballots, at the counting centres, which will have a three-tier security system. In a first, the Election Commission has introduced a QR code-based Photo Identity Card system through ECINET to prevent unauthorised entry into counting centres.
The results in this round of election comes after an intense, high voltage battle as almost all the states and even the Union Territory witnessed record polling. States including West Bengal and UT Puducherry even recorded their highest ever polling, in some cases, the maximum since independence. Let's take a look at voter turnout in 2026 and what it was in 2021.
In 2026, the West Bengal assembly election took place in two phases, unlike the eight phases in 2021. This year, the first phase witnessed a record turnout of 93.19 per cent, while 91.66 per cent votes were polled in the second phase. The overall turnout reached 92.47 per cent, the highest since independence.
In 2021, the overall voter turnout in West Bengal after the 8-phase assembly election stood at 85.2 per cent. Out of the total number of electors 6,99,99,955 as many as 5,96,68,385 voters exercised their right to franchise.
Comparing the two elections, in 2026, a whopping 8 per cent more voters exercised their right.
In Tamil Nadu, the 2026 assembly election saw 4,87,98,833 electors out of a total of 5.73 crore eligible voters exercising their right to franchise. The state witnessed an overall voter turnout of 85.10 per cent.
In 2021, there were a total of 5,99,36,039 electors out of whom 4,58,86,784 voters cast their vote. However, in 2026, the total size of electors reduced due to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, to update the electoral roll. The turnout in 2021 stood at 76.6 per cent. The state has a total of 234 assembly constituencies.
Assam has recorded an overall voter turnout of 85.17 per cent in 2026 assembly election. Among the districts, South Salmara-Mankachar recorded the highest turnout at 95.13 per cent, while West Karbi Anglong registered the lowest at 74.31 per cent. In Jalukbari, the constituency represented by BJP leader and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, a turnout of 81.54 per cent was recorded.
In 2021, out of a total of 2,20,49,568 electors, as many as 1,90,03,022 people participated in the assembly election, recording an overall voter turnout of 86.2 per cent.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
