Assam recorded 85.38% turnout, Puducherry 89.83% and Kerala 78.03% in assembly elections, higher than previous polls. According to the Election Commission, these are the highest ever for the states and union territory. Women voters outnumbered men in participation.
Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry on April 9, 2026, saw record voter turnouts. Provisional data from the Election Commission shows Assam at 85.38%, surpassing the 2016 high of 84.67%. Puducherry hit 89.83%, beating the 2011 record of 86.19%, while Kerala recorded 78.03%, up from 76% in 2021.
Women outpolled men across the board: in Assam, 85.96% for women versus 84.80% for men; Puducherry 91.33% versus 88.09%; Kerala 80.86% versus 75.01%. These were the first elections after February's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of rolls in Kerala and Puducherry, which reduced electorates. Assam's polls followed 2023 delimitation.
Assam's Dalgaon constituency saw the highest turnout at 94.57%. Urban Guwahati areas lagged: New Guwahati at 71.27%. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's Jalukbari recorded 80.83%. Polling was largely peaceful, barring a few incidents.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said, "The Assembly Elections 2026 in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry are a historic testimony not only for India but for the entire democratic world." Data from 3,469 stations is yet to be updated.
