India
An aggregate 60.03 per cent voter turnout was recorded in phase one of the Lok Sabha polls on Friday
Updated : Apr 19, 2024, 11:14 PM IST
An aggregate 60.03 per cent voter turnout was recorded in phase one of the Lok Sabha polls on Friday, the Election Commission (EC) said.
While the figures were issued after the conclusion of polls, the commission said people who were in the queue when voting ended at 6 pm were allowed to exercise their franchise.
"The voting percentage is likely to go upwards when reports from all polling stations are obtained as polling is scheduled till 6 PM in many constituencies. Final figures will be known on Saturday after the scrutiny of form 17A," the EC said.
Polling took place in 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union Territories in the first of the seven-phase elections.
The commission described the turnout as "high", noting that voting remained "largely peaceful".
In the first phase of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the voter turnout was recorded at 69.43 per cent. Some of the constituencies were different then and the total number of seats which went to polls were 91.
States, including Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territories of Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep completed their voting process on Friday in single-phase election.
For the first time, people in 56 villages in Bastar in Chhattisgarh cast their vote in polling booths set up in their own villages.
The poll authority pointed out that in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, voters belonging to the tribal communities came out in large numbers. The Shompen tribe of Great Nicobar made history by casting vote for the first time.
Voters braved the heat in most parts of the country while, at others, they waited patiently in pouring rain.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DNA staff and is published from PTI)
Voting percentage for the first phase of LS elections held today in 21 states UTs. pic.twitter.com/sOnDp9zE6V
— PIB in Uttarakhand (@PIBDehradun) April 19, 2024
VIDEO Lok Sabha Elections 2024 AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) files his nomination in Telangana’s Hyderabad constituency. LSPolls2024WithPTI LokSabhaElections2024
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 19, 2024
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/RoypFctNrj
WATCH Vidisha: Former MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Vidisha files his nomination. pic.twitter.com/zvWSf0sUWd
— ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2024
#WATCH | Congress leader Sachin Pilot casts his vote at a polling station in Jaipur, Rajasthan. #LokSabhaElections2024
— ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2024
(Source: Sachin Pilot Office) pic.twitter.com/pl3bbC6yAG
#WATCH | Gujarat: Union Home Minister Amit Shah files his nomination papers from the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat for the upcoming #LokSabhaElections2024
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Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel is also present. pic.twitter.com/89mCVhtKla
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— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 19, 2024
(Source: Third Party)
(Full video available on PTI Videos -… pic.twitter.com/2SF9KNM7HY
#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev casts his vote for the first phase of #LokSabhaElections2024 in Coimbatore. pic.twitter.com/VZ5A4FNXvT
— ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2024
Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu says "Today is the mega festival of democracy and voting for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections is underway. I expect that the number of voters this year will surpass the number of voters in 2019. BJP is going to make history in the state. We will also win both Lok Sabha seats. In the previous election, BJP got 41 seats and we hope that this time BJP will get 60 out of 60 seats..."
#WATCH | Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu says "Today is the mega festival of democracy and voting for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections is underway. I expect that the number of voters this year will surpass the number of voters in 2019. BJP is going to make history in the… pic.twitter.com/pCWvviIvlx
— ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2024
#WATCH | Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami along with his mother and wife cast his vote for the first phase of #LokSabhaElections2024 at a polling station in Khatima. pic.twitter.com/kd4ZC1uyTJ
— ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2024
#WATCH | Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma says, "There is great enthusiasm...I would like to appeal to you today that this is a festival of democracy - do cast your vote. Your votes will strengthen our democracy, our country...I would like to tell you that Rajasthan will repeat the… https://t.co/QFafn6h66L pic.twitter.com/ehWFcGcOXi
— ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2024
Tamil Nadu CM and DMK chief MK Stalin shows his inked finger after casting his vote in the first phase of #LokSabhaElections2024 in Chennai
— ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2024
CM Stalin said, "I am proud to cast my vote. All voters should vote." pic.twitter.com/d2VnRC1ggE
#WATCH | Assam: Congress MP and candidate from Jorhat Lok Sabha seat, Gaurav Gogoi casts his vote at a polling booth in Jorhat.#LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/8mX3tI4y9D
— ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2024
"The 2024 Lok Sabha elections commence today! As 102 seats across 21 States and UTs go to the polls, I urge all those voting in these seats to exercise their franchise in record numbers. I particularly call upon the young and first time voters to vote in large numbers. After all, every vote counts and every voice matters!" he wrote on X on Friday morning.
The 2024 Lok Sabha elections commence today! As 102 seats across 21 States and UTs go to the polls, I urge all those voting in these seats to exercise their franchise in record numbers. I particularly call upon the young and first time voters to vote in large numbers. After all,…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 19, 2024
Chhindwara | Congress leader & former Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath says, "I have full faith in the people of Chhindwara. They are the witness of the work we have done..."
His son and Congress leader Nakul Nath is contesting from the Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat
#WATCH | Chhindwara | Congress leader & former Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath says, "I have full faith in the people of Chhindwara. They are the witness of the work we have done..."
— ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2024
His son and Congress leader Nakul Nath is contesting from the Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat… pic.twitter.com/g34qkk37eh
#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: Congress leader P Chidambaram casts his vote at a polling booth in Sivaganga.#LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/9Aq8IfY5cT
— ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2024
#WATCH | Nagpur, Maharashtra: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat shows his inked finger after casting his vote in the first phase of #LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/rqZ2Fn0ZU1
— ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2024
#WATCH | #LokSabhaElection2024 | Bihar: Visuals from Polling booth number 187 in Gaya
— ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2024
Polling will begin at 7:00 am in Bihar's 4 constituencies - Aurangabad, Gaya, Jamuli and Nawada, in the first phase of the 2024 general elections. pic.twitter.com/ce96YNqULq
#WATCH | #LokSabhaElection2024 | Visuals from polling booth number 235 in Cooch Behar, West Bengal
— ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2024
Polling will begin at 7:00 am in West Bengal's 3 constituencies Cooch Behar, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri. pic.twitter.com/RR4VB6o0eF
Tamilisai Soundararajan, who recently resigned as governor of Telangana and Lt Governor of Puducherry to return to active politics, is contesting from Chennai South Lok Sabha constituency. Nakul Nath, son of Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath, is seeking reelection from Chhindwara.