Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced on Monday that a staggering 642 million Indians participated in the recently concluded six-week-long polls. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi widely anticipated to secure a third term, exit polls further reinforce this expectation.
Kumar expressed pride in achieving this monumental feat, highlighting that nearly half of the voters, totaling 312 million, were women. He emphasized the remarkable power of Indian voters, stating, “People should know about the strength of Indian democracy.”
Based on the Election Commission’s data of a 968 million-strong electorate, voter turnout stood at 66.3%, a slight decrease compared to the 2019 general election.
Kumar hailed the high voter turnout as a choice for action over apathy and belief over cynicism. He noted the absence of major incidents of violence during the polling process.
The final round of voting concluded on Saturday, with counting and results scheduled for Tuesday.
Exit polls strongly suggest Modi’s victory, with the Prime Minister expressing confidence in the electorate’s record turnout to re-elect his government.
India employs electronic voting machines for faster ballot counting, ensuring a robust counting process, as affirmed by Kumar.