Tamil Nadu sees highest-ever voter turnout, breaks 2011 record

Polling concluded in Tamil Nadu at 6 pm across all 234 constituencies, with those in queues permitted to vote. Voter turnout reached 85.03 per cent, surpassing the 2011 Assembly elections' record.

In Short

• Registered voters dropped to 5.73 crore after Special Intensive Revision
• Salem led district turnout with 88.02 per cent, ahead of Chennai
• Kolathur, Chepauk-Tiruvallikeni recorded strong polling statewide contest

Tamil Nadu on Thursday recorded its highest-ever voter turnout in Assembly elections on Thursday, with more than 85.03 per cent of its 5.73 crore electorate casting their ballots across all 234 constituencies. Voting officially ended at 6 pm, but electors who gathered at the polling stations before the time for closure of polling were allowed to exercise their franchise.

Polling in Tamil Nadu climbed to 85.03 per cent by 7 pm, according to the Election Commission of India, overtaking the previous record of 78.29 per cent set in 2011, when the AIADMK swept the elections. Overall, about 84.80 per cent of the state's 5.73 crore voters turned out to cast their ballots in the 234-member Assembly polls, marking a record participation.

The surge came despite a notable drop in the electorate size. Following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the number of registered voters fell from 6.41 crore in October 2025 to 5.73 crore. In comparison, the 2021 Assembly polls had about 6.29 crore voters, roughly 56 lakh more than this year.

District-wise, Salem led the turnout charts with 88.02 per cent polling. Chennai logged 81.34 per cent, while Coimbatore recorded 82.33 per cent. Tiruchirappalli saw 82.76 per cent voting and Madurai trailed slightly at 77.89 per cent.

Key constituencies also witnessed strong participation. In Kolathur, where Chief Minister M K Stalin is in the fray, turnout stood at 83.58 per cent by evening. Chepauk-Tiruvallikeni, contested by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, registered 81.89 per cent polling.

Edappadi, the stronghold of AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami, reported one of the highest turnouts at 89.09 per cent. The contest here is closely watched, with the DMK in direct competition and actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam backing an independent candidate after its nominee’s papers were rejected during scrutiny.

In Tiruchirappalli East, where actor-turned-politician Vijay is contesting, polling reached 79.32 per cent by 5 pm.

The elections were conducted under tight security, with over 3.6 lakh polling personnel deployed across the state, marking another significant chapter in Tamil Nadu’s 74-year electoral history.

Historically, turnout peaked in 2011 amid strong anti-incumbency and a spike in voter registrations. Since then, participation had declined to 74.81 per cent in 2016 and 73.63 per cent in 2021, failing to breach that earlier benchmark -- until now.

- Ends