The Election Commission of India (ECI) unveiled the schedule for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar announcing the commencement on April 19 and culmination on June 1. The counting of votes is slated for June 4. Spread across seven phases, the elections will see participation from nearly 967 million eligible voters across 543 Lok Sabha constituencies. Notably, individuals above 85 years of age have the option to vote from their residences, as per Rajiv Kumar’s statement. An extensive security deployment of 1.5 million personnel is arranged to ensure smooth conduct.
The electoral landscape showcases a substantial increase in registered voters compared to the 2019 elections, totaling approximately 968 million, making it the world’s largest electorate. This surge reflects a growing engagement of the youth, with over two crore new electors aged between 18 to 29. Moreover, the gender ratio in the electoral roll displays a positive trajectory, witnessing a rise from 940 in 2023 to 948 in 2024. This trend underscores the rising participation of women in shaping the country’s democratic process.
The Lok Sabha polls are scheduled to occur in seven phases, starting from April 19 and concluding on June 1. Noteworthy dates include April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. The electoral landscape features prominent political entities such as BJP, Congress, AAP, DMK, TMC, AIADMK, YSR Congress, TDP, and Shiv Sena, indicating a diverse political spectrum and a dynamic electoral contest.