In a historic achievement, the Election Commission of India announced on Monday that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections witnessed the highest voter turnout in any country globally. The announcement was made during a press conference addressed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, accompanied by Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.
Record-Breaking Turnout
CEC Rajiv Kumar highlighted the unprecedented participation, stating, “Indian elections are indeed a miracle, having no parallel in the world.” He revealed that approximately 64.2 crore (642 million) people cast their votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This included 31 crore (310 million) women and 33 crore (330 million) male voters. The turnout set a new world record, surpassing voter numbers in other countries by a significant margin.
Kumar emphasized the magnitude of this achievement by comparing it to other global democracies. “We have created a world record of 642 million voters. This is 1.5 times the voters of all G7 countries combined and 2.5 times the voters of the 27 countries in the European Union,” he said.
Women Voters’ Participation
The Election Commission also celebrated the high participation of women voters. CEC Kumar noted that 312 million women exercised their right to vote in the 2024 elections, marking an increase from the 2019 figures and setting a global record. He highlighted that the number of women voters was 1.25 times greater than the total voters in the EU countries.
During the press conference, the Election Commission gave a standing ovation to all the women who participated, acknowledging their significant contribution to India’s democratic process.
Senior Voters’ Contribution
Acknowledging the role of senior voters, CEC Kumar praised those aged 85 and above, calling them “the heroes of our democracy.” He commended their lifelong contributions, having witnessed India’s journey from pre-independence to the present day, and their participation as an inspiration for the younger generation.
Peaceful Polling in Manipur
Regarding the northeastern state of Manipur, CEC Kumar reported that no major incidents of violence occurred during the elections. Inner Manipur recorded a voter turnout of 71.96 percent, while Outer Manipur saw a turnout of 51.72 percent. The Election Commission set up 94 special polling stations across 10 districts and one unique polling station in Tengnoupal district for a single voter, ensuring inclusivity in the electoral process.
Exit Poll Predictions
Following the completion of the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections, exit polls have predicted a significant victory for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). According to ABP News-CVoter exit polls, the NDA is projected to win between 353 and 383 seats, while the Congress-led I.N.D.I.A bloc is expected to secure between 152 and 182 seats. Other parties are forecasted to win between 4 and 12 seats.
In terms of vote share, the NDA is anticipated to receive 45 percent, the I.N.D.I.A bloc 40 percent, and other parties 15 percent.
The official counting of votes for the 18th Lok Sabha will take place on June 4, which will confirm the actual results of this landmark election.
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