New Delhi, May 8: In the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections, spanning 93 constituencies across 11 states and Union Territories, the voter turnout stood at approximately 64.40% as of 11:45 p.m., according to the Election Commission. The highest voter participation was reported from Assam, with 81.61% turnout in 4 seats, while Uttar Pradesh recorded the lowest turnout at 57.34% across 10 seats.
The Election Commission released a statement confirming the turnout figure and clarified that the data was based on information provided by field officers. It noted that the data was approximate, as information from some polling stations takes time to be collected, and it did not include postal ballots. Final vote counts for each polling station would be shared in Form 17C with all polling agents at the close of polls.
Among other states, West Bengal recorded a turnout of 75.79% in 4 seats, followed by Goa at 75.20% in 2 seats, and Chhattisgarh at 71.06% in 7 seats. Karnataka saw a turnout of 70.41% across 14 seats, while Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu registered 69.87% in 2 seats. Madhya Pradesh recorded 66.05% in 9 seats, Gujarat 58.98% in 25 seats, and Bihar 58.18% in 5 seats.
Polling commenced at 7 a.m. and officially closed at 6 p.m., with provisions made for those in queues to cast their votes even after the deadline. The polling process was largely peaceful, with voters braving the heat to exercise their democratic right.
With the conclusion of Phase 3, polling for half of the Lok Sabha seats (283) has been completed, covering 20 states and Union Territories. The election process concluded in Assam, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
Among the notable candidates in this phase were Union Home Minister Amit Shah contesting from Gujarat's Gandhinagar, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan from Vidisha, and Congress heavyweight Digvijaya Singh from Madhya Pradesh's Rajgarh. Other contenders included Samajwadi Party's Dimple Yadav from Uttar Pradesh's Mainpuri, former BJP Karnataka Chief Ministers Jagadish Shettar and Basavaraj Bommai, and industrialist Pallavi Dempo contesting from South Goa on a BJP ticket.
The next phase of elections, covering 96 seats across 10 states and Union Territories, is scheduled for May 13.
