Lok Sabha Elections: Over 61 percent voter turnout recorded in phase three, Assam witnesses highest polling

Lok Sabha Elections: In the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections, eleven states and territories, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat, held voting on Tuesday despite intense heat. On May 7, voting covered 93 Lok Sabha seats, with the BJP securing Surat uncontested due to the rejection of the Congress candidate's nomination papers and the withdrawal of others from the race.

According to data from the Election Commission, a provisional voter turnout of approximately 61.5% has been reported so far. The highest turnout was observed in BJP-governed Assam (75.30%), despite cloudy skies and light rain in most areas. Although the official voting period ends at 6 pm, it may extend beyond the designated hours to accommodate voters in line who arrived early to cast their votes. 

61.45% approximate voter turnout was recorded today till 8 pm in Phase 3 of #LokSabhaElections2024, as per the Election Commission of India. pic.twitter.com/JCZdu4774S

— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2024

Here's a breakdown of the key highlights from this phase:

State-wise Analysis

• Assam: Dhubri emerged as the frontrunner with an exceptional voter turnout of 79.7%, followed closely by Barpeta at 76.73%, Kokrajhar at 74.24%, and Guwahati at 68.93%.
• West Bengal: The state recorded a notable 73.9% voter turnout, showcasing peaceful polling across four constituencies.
• Maharashtra: Out of the 48 Lok Sabha constituencies, Kolhapur led the way with a turnout of 63.71%, closely followed by Hatkanangale at 62.18%.
• Gujarat: With 25 constituencies in play, Valsad secured the highest voter turnout at 68.66%, while Amreli witnessed the lowest at 46.11%.
• Bihar: Five Lok Sabha seats saw participation rates averaging around 56%, with Supaul leading at 58.91%.
• Chhattisgarh: Seven out of the 11 Lok Sabha seats recorded a turnout of 66.99%, demonstrating active civic engagement.
• Madhya Pradesh: Across nine constituencies, a turnout of 63.19% was reported, with Rajgarh leading at 73.63%.
• Uttar Pradesh: Agra, Aonla, Budaun, and other constituencies witnessed voter turnouts ranging from 51.53% to 61.10%.

Despite the scorching temperatures, voters showed enthusiasm in exercising their democratic rights. Notably, the turnout in the first two phases was marginally lower than in previous elections, with analysts attributing this trend to the summer heat and the absence of a dominant issue to mobilize voters.