New Delhi: The total number of eligible voters in the country shot up from 89.6 crores in 2019 to 96.8 crores in 2024. But in the first five phases of polling, a dip of ~19.4 crore (19,37,72,469) votes was recorded in the ongoing 2024 Lok Sabha elections in comparison to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, data made available by the Election Commission of India reveals.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, a total of 426 seats polled in the first five phases while in the 2024 polls, voting was conducted for a total of 428 constituencies, that is two seats more than in 2019.
In 2019, 70.1 crore (70,16,69,757) votes were recorded in the first five phases, while in 2024, a total 50.7 crore (50,78,97,288) votes were recorded.
Illustration: Pariplab Chakraborty
The comparison has been made possible after the Election Commission of India, facing unprecedented and sustained public pressure, released the absolute numbers of voters for the five phases that were completed on May 20 (Monday).
Phase One
According to the data now made available by the Election Commission, in phase 1 of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, a total of 11,00,52,103 votes were recorded across 102 seats. In comparison, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, 14,20,54,978 were recorded in the first phase in which polls were conducted to 91 seats. 3.2 crore votes less have been cast in 2024, in comparison with 2019, in the first phase.
| Year | Total votes | Total seats |
| 2019 | 14,20,54,978 | 91 |
| 2024 | 11,00,52,103 | 102 |
Difference in absolute numbers in Phase 1: 3,20,02,875
Phase Two
In the second phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the dip has been bigger than the first phase, of 4.9 crores (4,94,18,900). This, when the number of seats that went to polls in 2024 in the second phase were more than in 2019.
A total of 10,58,30,572 votes were recorded across 88 seats in the second phase in 2024 in comparison to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when a total of 15,52,49,472 votes were recorded after polling to 95 seats.
| YEAR | TOTAL VOTES | TOTAL SEATS |
| 2019 | 15,52,49,472 | 95 |
| 2024 | 10,58,30,572 | 88 |
Difference in absolute numbers in Phase 2: 4,94,18,900
Phase Three
In the third phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, there has been a dip of 7.5 crore (7,52,74,480) votes recorded in comparison to the previous election. A total of 18,85,09,156 votes were recorded after polling to 117 seats in the third phase of 2019 in comparison to a total of 11,32,34,676 votes recorded after polling to 93 seats in 2024’s third phase.
Of course, in the third phase, the number of seats in which voting took place, were significantly more in 2019, as compared to 2024.
| Year | Total votes | Total seats |
| 2019 | 18,85,09,156 | 117 |
| 2024 | 11,32,34,676 | 93 |
Difference in absolute numbers in Phase 3: 7,52,74,480
Phase Four
In the fourth phase, the difference between the two elections is 57.9 lakhs (57,98,110). This is despite the total number of seats that voted in this phase in 2024 being 24 more than in 2019, in the same phase.
In 2019 a total of 12,82,67,429 votes were recorded across 72 seats and in 2024 a total of 96 seats recorded 12,24,69,319 votes.
| Year | Total votes | Total seats |
| 2019 | 12,82,67,429 | 72 |
| 2024 | 12,24,69,319 | 96 |
Difference in absolute numbers in Phase 4: 57,98,110
Phase Five
In the fifth phase, the difference stands at 3.1 crores (3,18,78,104). In 2019 a total of 8,75,88,722 votes were recorded after polling to 51 seats in the fifth phase while in 2024 a total of 5,57,10,618 votes have been recorded in polling to 49 seats.
In the fifth phase of polling, in 2024, two less seats voted, in comparison with the fifth phase in 2019.
| Year | Total votes | Total seats |
| 2019 | 8,75,88,722 | 51 |
| 2024 | 5,57,10,618 | 49 |
Difference in absolute numbers in Phase 5: 3,18,78,104
According to a press release by the Election Commission of India in February, the total number of eligible voters in 2019 there were a total of 89.6 crore voters, which increased to 96.8 crores in 2024.
Data released after sustained pressure
The data was released on Saturday, just two days after the Election Commission told the Supreme Court that there is no legal mandate for the commission to disclose voter turnout data based on Form 17C, or the record of votes polled in each polling station, and that such disclosure could be susceptible to misuse.
The election-conducting body has filed the affidavit in response to an application filed by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Common Cause seeking immediate publication of voter turnout data in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
The Supreme Court on Friday, refused to direct the Election Commission to publish voter turnout data and said that a “hands-off” approach during the elections was required as it listed the matter to be heard after summer vacations.
The Election Commission, while supplying the numbers, again said “Commission notes the pattern of false narratives and mischievous design to vitiate electoral process.”
2019 Phases
As in 2024, in 2019 too polling was conducted over seven phases in 2019.
The first vote was cast on April 11 and the last one on May 19. The results were declared on May 25. The phases were however spaced closer together with voting conducted on April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19, 2019.