On April 19th, the state of Tamil Nadu witnessed a pivotal moment in its democratic process as voters across 39 Lok Sabha constituencies cast their ballots, determining the fate of 950 candidates. In a spirited four-cornered contest, 69.46% of the electorate exercised their franchise, marking a significant turnout in the electoral arena.
Additionally, in the Vilavancode Assembly by-election, the polling percentage stood at 64.54%, adding further depth to the electoral landscape of the state. These figures, as reported until 7 p.m., are subject to marginal revisions, indicating the dynamic nature of the electoral process in Tamil Nadu.
The numbers provided are preliminary and do not incorporate postal votes. The definitive figures are anticipated to be available by Saturday noon. Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo informed reporters that aside from a few minor incidents, there were no significant untoward events during the polling. “The information we’ve provided is an estimation derived from sample data collected at polling stations,” he explained.
Voter Turnout Across Electoral Districts in Tamil Nadu
Chennai Central witnessed a turnout of 53.91%, Chennai South 54.27%, Chennai North 60.13%, Sriperumbudur 60.21%, Kallakurichi 79.25%, Dharmapuri 81.48%, Chidambaram 75.32%, Perambalur 77.37%, Namakkal 78.16%, Karur 78.61%, Arakkonam 74.08%, Arani 75.65%, Salem 78.13%, Villupuram 76.47%, Tiruvannamalai 73.88%, Vellore 73.42%, Kancheepuram 71.55%, Krishnagiri 71.31%, Cuddalore 72.28%, Virudhunagar 70.17%, Pollachi 70.70%, Nagapattinam 71.55%, and Tiruppur 70.58%. Tiruvallur recorded 68.317%, Theni 69.87%, Mayiladuthurai 70.06%, Erode 70.54%, Dindigul 70.99%, Tiruchi 67.45%, Coimbatore 64.81%, the Nilgiris 70.93%, Tenkasi 67.55%, Madurai 61.92%, Sivaganga 63.94%, Ramanathapuram 68.18%, Thoothukudi 59.96%, Tirunelveli 64.10%, Thanjavur 68.18%, and Kanniyakumari 65.46%.
When questioned about reports of individuals’ names missing from voter rolls in certain areas, Mr. Sahoo stated, “We need to investigate the circumstances under which they were removed. I urge voters to verify their inclusion in the rolls during future special summary revisions. In some instances, we found their names were listed at another polling booth.”
Regarding inquiries about demands for re-polling at specific booths, he commented, “We will receive updates on this matter tomorrow, based on reports from Presiding Officers, independent observers, and political parties.”
Addressing queries about complaints, he acknowledged a complaint from a political party, prompting the Election Commission to request a report from the District Election Officer.
Mr. Sahoo noted that due to the intense heat, the voter turnout was low until the afternoon, but it increased significantly after 3 p.m. “A significant number of voters arrived between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.”
He mentioned that the flying squads and static surveillance teams would be disbanded in most regions, with the exception of districts bordering Kerala and Karnataka, which have pending elections.