Voting Ends In Assam, Kerala And Puducherry With Record Turnout - Is There An SIR Impact?

Voting for the Assembly Elections 2026 in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry concluded on Thursday with an impressive voter turnout across all three regions. As per provisional data till 5 PM, Assam recorded around 84.42% turnout, Kerala 75.01%, and Puducherry 86.92%.

These figures are not final and may increase after counting of late votes.

Elections were held for 126 seats in Assam, 140 seats in Kerala, and 30 seats in Puducherry. The results will be declared on May 4, along with other states going to polls later this month.

District-Wise Highlights

In Kerala, Ernakulam district reported the highest turnout at around 66%. Most districts in the state crossed the 60% mark, except Pathanamthitta, which recorded slightly lower participation.

In Assam, South Salmara Mankachar saw one of the highest turnouts at over 84%, while Kamrup (Metro) recorded the lowest at around 65%.

These figures show strong participation across both urban and rural areas, although turnout varied from district to district.

Kerala: Large Electorate and Strong Participation

Kerala has over 2.69 crore registered voters, including more than 1.38 crore women voters and 1.31 crore men. There are also over 270 third-gender voters.
A significant number of young voters participated, with over 4.24 lakh voters aged 18-19.

Additionally, more than 2 lakh senior citizens aged 85 and above were part of the electorate.

To manage the voting process, authorities set up over 30,000 polling stations across the state, ensuring smooth and secure polling.

Assam: Over 700 Candidates in the Fray

In Assam, more than 2.5 crore voters were eligible to vote, deciding the fate of 722 candidates contesting the elections.

The electorate included nearly equal numbers of male and female voters, along with over 300 transgender voters and thousands of service voters. Young voters also played a key role, with over 6.4 lakh voters in the 18-19 age group.

To ensure transparency, webcasting facilities were installed in all 31,490 polling stations. Over 1.5 lakh polling personnel were deployed, and a large number of electronic voting machines and VVPATs were arranged for the process.

Puducherry: Highest Turnout Among the Three

Puducherry recorded the highest turnout among the three, with nearly 87% voting by 5 PM. The Union Territory has over 10 lakh voters, including a higher number of women voters compared to men.

Young voters also contributed significantly, with more than 24,000 first-time voters aged 18-19 participating in the election.

Final Turnout Likely to Rise Further

According to updated estimates, the final turnout figures could be even higher, with projections suggesting:

• Assam: Around 85%
• Kerala: Around 77%
• Puducherry: Around 89%

These numbers indicate strong voter engagement across all three regions.

Is the High Turnout Due to SIR?

There is also discussion about whether the high turnout, especially in Kerala, is partly due to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls conducted by the Election Commission.

This process removes duplicate, shifted, and deceased voters, reducing the total number of registered voters. As a result, even if a similar number of people vote, the turnout percentage can appear higher.

In simple terms, a cleaner voter list can increase the turnout percentage without a major increase in actual voters. Therefore, the high turnout may reflect both active participation and improved voter data accuracy.

The Assembly Elections 2026 in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry have seen strong voter participation, reflecting the importance of these polls. While final numbers are yet to be confirmed, the high turnout shows active public engagement in the democratic process.
As attention now shifts to counting day on May 4, the results will reveal how voters across these regions have shaped their political future.