Lok Sabha polls: 65.79% voter turnout recorded in 2024, excluding postal ballots, says EC

In a stark difference from 2019, the BJP failed to attain majority on its own, with just 240 seats

A voter turnout of 65.79 per cent was recorded in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, but the final figures may vary as it does not include postal ballots, the Election Commission (EC) said on June 6.

The general election took place in seven phases from April 26 to June 1 while the counting of votes took place on June 4. Reportedly, a total of 64.2 crore voters exercise their franchise.

"Overall, 65.79 per cent voter turnout was recorded in general elections 2024 at the polling stations," EC said in a statement. Voter turnout at polling station means votes polled in electronic voting machines.

The turnout was 67.40 per cent in 2019 parliamentary polls. The country had 91.20 crore voters in 2019 out of which 61.5 had exercised their franchise. This time, the size of the electorate grew to 96.88 crore voters.

EC said detailed statistical reports having number of postal votes and gross voter turnout will be made available after finalisation of details, as received from states and Union Territories in due course according to standard practice.

In a stark difference from 2019, the BJP failed to attain majority on its own, with just 240 seats to its kitty in 2024 when compared to 303 in 2019.

However, BJP-led NDA looks set to form a government as it has bagged 293 seats in the 543-member House, making for Narendra Modi to take the oath for a third consecutive term.

According to reports, Modi's oath-taking ceremony will take place on June 9.

Meanwhile, in a big surprise, the opposition INDIA bloc made impressive gains this time by bagging 234 seats. The Congress alone managed to get 99 seats, nearly double of what it got in 2019.