Before the Lok Sabha polls, the total number of voters in India had reached 968.8 million rupees, ranking first in the world. Data from the Election Commission of India showed that six states – Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh – accounted for more than half of the total voters, totaling Rs 51 crore.
The poll body has released the electoral rolls of all states and union territories across the country as per the Special Summary Revision 2024 (SSR 2024). Among the states, Uttar Pradesh has the most Lok Sabha seats and the largest number of voters at Rs 15.3 crore. This is followed by Maharashtra (Rs 9.1 crore) and Bihar (Rs 7.6 crore). ECI data analyzed by News18 also shows that Lakshadweep, with only 57,593 voters, is at the other end of the spectrum, followed by Ladakh with 1.83 lakh voters.
With the current Lok Sabha term ending in May and general elections scheduled to be held in March-April, this could be the final list of voters to exercise their rights.
According to ECI data, the number of voters has increased by 8% in 2024 compared to 2019, from Rs 896 million to Rs 968 million.
The SSR, released with an eligibility date of January 1, 2024, has added more than 2.63 billion new voters. Data shows that about 15% more women (1.41 billion) are on the list than men (1.22 billion).
Data shows that between 2019 and 2024, the number of male voters increased by about 7%, while the number of female voters increased by about 9%.
Six states – Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh – also have the highest number of Lok Sabha seats in the same order, except Bihar. While Bihar ranks fourth in terms of Lok Sabha seats but third in terms of voters, West Bengal ranks fourth in terms of voters but has two more Lok Sabha seats than Bihar. These six states have more than half of the Lok Sabha seats and voters.
Data from pollsters show a significant increase in female voter registration, reflecting a concerted effort to achieve gender equality and inclusivity.
Over the past few years, especially between 2019 and 2024, the gender ratio of voters has continued to rise – from 928 to 948.
“The significant increase in the gender ratio in the electoral roll reflects the growing role of women in shaping the country’s democratic fabric,” the ECI said in a statement.
As of now, of the nearly 970 million registered voters, 1.84 crore are in the 18-19 age group and 1,974 million are in the 20-29 age group. As many as 238,000 voters are over 100 years old, while 185,000 voters are over 80 years old.
The pollster cited the increase in voter registration across all sectors, calling it a significant achievement and symbolic of a collective commitment to upholding the principles of free and fair elections.
“As the country prepares for the 2024 general election, this inclusive and diverse electoral roll is a testament to the power of democracy and the unwavering spirit of civic engagement among its citizens,” the statement said.
The commission said it firmly believes that an inclusive, healthy, pure and transparent electoral roll is the basis for free, fair and credible elections. The Commission’s first priority is to ensure that no eligible citizen is deprived of the right to be included in the electoral roll and that as far as possible the electoral roll is kept error-free and free of any duplicate and ineligible entries.
Not just adding names, the ECI also deleted 1.65 billion names from the rolls after thorough “house-to-house verification”.
This includes 6.782 million dead voters, 7.511 million permanently transferred and absentee voters, and 2,205 repeat voters. Pollsters said the sweeping cleanup ensured the integrity and purity of the electoral process.
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