West Bengal records highest-ever poll-participation since Independence

91.66% poll-participation recorded in Phase-II Posted On: 29 APR 2026 8:35PM by PIB Delhi Polling for the General elections for the Legislative Assemblies of West Bengal (Phase-II) began today at 7:00 AM. As of 7:45 PM , poll-participation in West Bengal (Phase-II) stood at 91.66% . In phase -I of the West Bengal general elections, the poll-participation was 93.19%. The combined poll-percentage over the two-phases stands at 92.47%. Previously, the highest poll-participation in WB was 84.72% (2011 GELA). Details of poll-participation over the years are annexed . Gender-wise details of poll-participation (%) in West Bengal Assembly Election (Phase-II) are as follows: General Elections to Legislative Assembly of WB (Phase-II) Poll Percentage (%) *+ Male Female 3rd Gender Total 91.07 92.28 91.28 91.66 *As per data uploaded by the PROs themselves in ECINET . Data from 5,343 PS in WB yet to be updated +Data is provisional and it does not include Service Voters & Postal Ballots. Final figures will be shared in Index Cards through ECINET Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Shri Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. S.S. Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi kept a close watch on the polling through live-webcasting which was ensured in 100% of the Polling Stations in West Bengal (Phase-II) as well. Details of electorate, polling stations, polling staff, candidates and polling agents in the state across both phases are as below: PHASE Districts ACs Electorate Candidates Polling Stations Polling Staff Polling Agents Poll % Male (in crores) Female (in crores) 3 rd Gender Total (in crores) I 16 152 1.84 1.76 465 3.60 1,478 44,376 2,21,880 1,54,222 93.19 II*+ 8 142 1.65 1.57 792 3.21 1,448 41,001 2,05,005 1,81,271 91.66 TOTAL 24 294 3.49 3.33 1,257 6.81 2,926 85,377 4,26,885 3,35,493 92.47 *As per data uploaded by the PROs themselves in ECINET . Data from 5,343 PS in WB(Phase-II) yet to be updated +Data is provisional and it does not include Service Voters & Postal Ballots. Final figures will be shared in Index Cards through ECINET Presiding Officers updated the polling percentage on ECINET at the close of poll before leaving the polling station as per ECI’s latest instructions resulting in minimal delay in updation of the polling trends. Several new voter-friendly initiatives such as easily identifiable colour photos of candidates on EVM ballot papers, Mobile Deposit Facility (MDF), newly designed Voter Information Slips (VIS) for easy readability and limit of electors upto 1,200 per polling station were ensured in these elections. Polling stations were also provided with wheelchairs and volunteers to assist PwD voters . Transport facilities were also provided to assist PwD voters in reaching their respective polling stations. District-wise and AC wise approximate voter turnout figures are available on the ECINET App . ********** PK/GDH/RP Annexure -1 Table2: West Bengal: Gender-wise Poll Participation in Elections [1951 &ndash; 2026] Sl. No. State Year of Election Election Type Election Year Male VTR % Female VTR % Total VTR % 1 West Bengal 1951 LA 1951(LA) 43.12 2 West Bengal 1951 LS 1951(LS) 40.49 3 West Bengal 1957 LA 1957(LA) 47.64 4 West Bengal 1957 LS 1957(LS) 47.67 5 West Bengal 1962 LA 1962(LA) 61.77 47.43 55.55 6 West Bengal 1962 LS 1962(LS) 61.98 47.62 55.75 7 West Bengal 1967 LA 1967(LA) 70.69 60.51 66.10 8 West Bengal 1967 LS 1967(LS) 70.88 60.15 66.03 9 West Bengal 1969 LA 1969(LA) 69.67 62.57 66.51 10 West Bengal 1971 LA 1971(LA) 65.09 58.09 62.03 11 West Bengal 1971 LS 1971(LS) 64.51 58.57 61.93 12 West Bengal 1972 LA 1972(LA) 63.19 57.75 60.82 13 West Bengal 1977 LA 1977(LA) 59.72 51.86 56.15 14 West Bengal 1977 LS 1977(LS) 64.86 54.75 60.24 15 West Bengal 1980 LS 1980(LS) 72.58 68.18 70.62 16 West Bengal 1982 LA 1982(LA) 78.79 74.87 76.96 17 West Bengal 1984 LS 1984(LS) 81.74 75.04 78.61 18 West Bengal 1987 LA 1987(LA) 77.42 73.65 75.66 19 West Bengal 1989 LS 1989(LS) 82.05 76.92 79.67 20 West Bengal 1991 LA 1991(LA) 77.53 75.96 76.80 21 West Bengal 1991 LS 1991(LS) 78.33 74.88 76.73 22 West Bengal 1996 LA 1996(LA) 83.86 81.92 82.94 23 West Bengal 1996 LS 1996(LS) <span style="font-fam