Dr. Tulip Duncan
India has set a new global benchmark for voter participation in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, according to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar. During a press conference on Monday, Kumar expressed his gratitude to the electorate and described the Indian elections as a “miracle.”
“We have established a world record with 642 million voters participating in this election. This is a monumental achievement for all of us,” Kumar announced. “To put this into perspective, our voter turnout is 1.5 times greater than the combined voter count of all G7 countries and 2.5 times greater than that of the 27 European Union (EU) nations. We extend our heartfelt thanks to every individual who participated in this celebration of democracy. The Indian elections are indeed unparalleled.”
The seven-phase election saw an impressive turnout of 312 million women voters, surpassing the total number of women who voted in the most recent national elections across EU countries. Kumar highlighted this achievement, emphasizing the significant role of female voters in the democratic process.
Kumar also paid tribute to the elderly voters, particularly those aged 85 and above, recognizing their unwavering commitment as a source of inspiration for the younger generation. “The contribution of voters aged 85 and above is truly inspiring. These individuals have witnessed India’s journey from pre-independence to its current state and have significantly shaped the nation over the past seven decades,” Kumar stated.
This election cycle required fewer repolls compared to previous ones, thanks to the meticulous efforts of the election personnel. “We conducted only 39 repolls in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, compared to 540 in 2019. Remarkably, 25 of these 39 repolls were concentrated in just two states,” Kumar explained.
Special recognition was given to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for their remarkable faith in the electoral process, resulting in the highest voter turnout in the state in four decades. “Voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir has reached unprecedented levels not seen in the last forty years,” Kumar noted.
Maintaining the integrity of the elections was a key focus for the Election Commission. “We identified, confronted, and tackled issues such as muscle power, money, misinformation, and violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). These obstacles to free, fair, and transparent elections were effectively addressed,” Kumar affirmed. He also mentioned the record seizure of nearly Rs 10,000 crores, almost three times the amount seized in 2019, highlighting the empowerment of local teams to carry out their duties effectively.
Kumar assured the public that the vote counting process, scheduled for Tuesday, is secure and error-free. “The entire counting process is absolutely robust, operating with clock-like precision,” he said.
