Days after suspense over the low voter turnout, the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday came out with official data showing low voting percentage in the first two phases that concluded recently.

A voter turnout of 66.14 per cent was recorded in the first phase and 66.71 per cent was recorded in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections.

In 2019, the voter turnout was recorded at 69.43 per cent and 69.17 per cent in the first and second phases, respectively. The voter turnout in the two phases of the recent Lok Sabha elections experienced a decline compared to the 2019 polls.

The first phase of polling was held on April 19 across 102 constituencies and the second phase was held on April 26 for 88 constituencies.

“In the ongoing general elections, voter turnout of 66.14 per cent has been recorded in phase 1 for 102 PCs (Parliamentary Constituencies) and 66.71 per cent in phase 2 for 88 PCs that went for polls in the two phases,” the EC said in a statement.

Generally, a higher voter turnout is considered an indication of change, while a low turnout suggests continuity. However, there is no clear correlation or trend evident in the data. Analysts say the lower turnout marked a clear lack of enthusiasm among people.

Officially sharing the turnout figure, the EC said in phase one of the elections, 66.22 per cent of male and 66.07 female electors turned up to vote.

The turnout for registered third-gender voters stood at 31.32 per cent. In the 2019 polls, the turnout in the first phase stood at 69.43 per cent.

In the second phase of elections held on April 26, the male voter turnout was recorded at 66.99 per cent, while the female turnout stood at 66.42 per cent. As many as 23.86 per cent of the registered third-gender voters came out to vote.

The data showed that Bihar recorded 49.26 per cent voter turnout, less than 50 per cent while Meghalaya and Uttar Pradesh recorded 56.87 per cent and 57.22 per cent respectively.  Three parliamentary constituencies recorded less than 50 per cent voting percentage, which include Nawada in Bihar 43.17 per cent; Karauli-Dholpur in Rajasthan 49.59 per cent, a decline from 55.18 per cent in 2019 and Almora in Uttarakhand 48.74 per cent, a decline from 52.31 per cent in 2019.

In the first phase of polling, Lakshadweep (84.1 per cent) recorded the highest voter percentage while Bihar (49.26 per cent) recorded the lowest voter turnout of the twenty-21 States and Union Territories that voted on April 19.

Some other key States including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu witnessed 61.11 per cent, 63.71 per cent, 67.75 per cent, 57.65 and 69.72 per cent polling respectively in the first phase.

In the second phase of polling, Manipur recorded the highest voter turnout at 84.85 per cent, while Uttar Pradesh recorded the lowest at 55.19 per cent. Some other key states including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kerala witnessed 62.71 per cent, 58.59 per cent, 65.03 per cent, 69.56 and 71.27 per cent polling respectively in the second phase.

Earlier in the day, the Congress, CPI(M) and the TMC questioned the Election Commission over delays in announcing the final voter turnout figures for the first two phases of the Lok Sabha polls, 11 days after the first round of polling on April 19.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said it is essential for the Election Commission of India (ECI) to be timely and transparent about all election-related data, and it should come out with the figures and make them public. “For the first time, even 11 days after the first phase of the polls and four days after the second phase, the final voter turnout has not been published by the ECI. In the past, ECI used to publish the final voter turnout immediately after voting or within 24 hours. Only approximate polling figures are available on ECI’s website. What accounts for this delay,” he asked in a post on X. Ramesh said that additionally, the number of registered voters in each Lok Sabha constituency and the assembly constituencies included in that Lok Sabha constituency is also not available on the commission’s website.

The website only shows the total number of voters in a state and the number of voters in each booth, he said. “It is essential for the Election Commission of India to be as timely and transparent about all election-related data,” the Congress general secretary said. Echoing similar sentiments, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O’brien in a post on X wrote, “Modi got the law changed in Parliament to get his own umpire and destroy the Election Commission. Now, after two phases, the EC yet to disclose final polling data. Why the delay ? The first two phases didn’t go well, did they! And EC, why no press conference after every phase?.”

The EC made it clear that the final turnout will only be available post-counting with the counting of postal ballots and its addition to the total vote count.Postal ballots include postal ballots given to service voters, absentee voters -- those above 85 years of age, persons with disabilities, those on essential services and voters on election duty.Daily accounts of such postal ballots received are given to all candidates, it noted.

Notably, from 1951-52 to 2019, there have been 17 Lok Sabha elections. In 16 elections from 1957 to 2019, the turnout declined six times and increased 10 times. Of the 10 times the turnout increased, the incumbent lost four times and won in six elections, resulting in a 60 per cent repetition rate. Of the six times the turnout decreased, the incumbent lost four times and won twice, indicating a 33% repetition rate. The BJP has formed governments five times, in 1996 (for 13 days), 1998 (for 13 months), 1999, 2014, and 2019. Except in 1999, higher turnouts were seen in the remaining four elections. Thus, 80 per cent of the time the BJP has formed governments, it has been following an increased polling percentage.

The elections to the redrawn Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat, which was slated to go to polls on May 7, was postponed to May 25 by the Election Commission.  This comes after several leaders including Jammu and Kashmir BJP unit chief Ravinder Raina, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari, People’s Conference leader Imran Ansari and others had approached the Election Commission requesting for rescheduling of polls to the seat due to adverse weather conditions.