Polling officials carrying electronic voting machine (EVMs) and other election related materials for the 5th Phase of the General Elections at Serampore, West Bengal on 19 May 2024.
The first phase of voting was conducted on 19 April 2024.[1][2] 66.14% polling was recorded in the first phase.[3] EVM malfunctioning was reported in few booths in Chennai.[4] Violence broke in polling station in Inner Manipur,[5][6] where re-polling was ordered on 22 April in 11 polling stations due to violence.[7][8] Re-polling was also ordered for eight polling stations in Arunachal Pradesh on 24 April due to reports of violence and damage to EVMs.[9][10] Clashes were recorded between party workers of the BJP and the TMC in Cooch Behar, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri constituencies of West Bengal.[11][12] One Central Reserve Police Force (CPRF) personnel was found dead in a polling booth in Cooch Behar and another CRPF personnel was killed during clashes in Chhattisgarh.[13][14][15][16] Clashes between the cadre of VCK and the BJP was reported in Chidambaram constituency in Tamil Nadu, where three people were injured.[17][18] Instances of EVM malfunctioning, removal of candidates and names of voters missing from electoral rolls were reported.[19][20][21] On 18 April, the Supreme Court asked the Election Commission to look into reported EVM malfunctioning in Kerala.[22] 150 EVMs were replaced in Assam after reported malfunctioning.[23]
The second phase of voting was conducted on 26 April 2024.[24][25] 66.71% polling was recorded in the first phase.[3] Re-polling was ordered on 29 April for a polling station in Chamarajanagar due to violence and EVM damage[26][27] and for six polling stations in Outer Manipur on 30 April due to violence, EVM damage and forced voting allegedly carried out by unidentified armed individuals.[28][29] Re-polling was also conducted for a polling station in Ajmer on 2 May 2024 due to misplaced voters' register.[30][31] Eight voters in Kerala died of heat stroke while voting.[32][33] In Manipur, two CPRF personnel were killed and two more were seriously injured in a militant attack in Bishnupur district,[34][35] a man was killed in a gunfight between two unidentified groups in the Kangpokpi and Imphal East districts,[36][37] and incidents of EVM vandalism, voter intimidation and coercion were reported in two polling stations in Ukhrul.[38][39]
The third phase of voting was conducted on 7 May 2024. The voter turnout was recorded as 65.68% from the 17.24 crore including 8.85 crore men and 8.39 crore women, who were eligible to cast their votes.[40] Isolated incidents of violence were reported in West Bengal.[41]
The fourth phase of voting was conducted on 13 May 2024, where 96 constituencies went to polls.[42] Voter turnout was recorded as 69.16%.[43] Polling was largely peaceful with scattered incidents of violence were reported in West Bengal.[44]
The fifth phase of voting was conducted on 20 May 2024, where 49 constituencies voted.[45] 62.2% voters cast their votes.[46] Isolated incidents of violence were reported in West Bengal.[47]
The seventh and last phase of voting was conducted on 1 June, where 57 constituencies voted.[54] The voter turn out in the last phase was 63.88%.[55] Re-polling was ordered at one booth each in the Barasat and Mathurapur constituencies of West Bengal on 3 June due to violence.[56] During the phase, a mob looted election material from a polling booth and dumped it into a pond in Kultali, Jaynagar in West Bengal and clashes erupted between BJP and TMC supporters in Sandeshkhali.[57] In Uttar Pradesh, at least 33 election workers, including security and sanitation staff, died of heat stroke, along with a voter waiting in line in Ballia.[58] State election officials subsequently stated that compensation of 1.5 million rupees ($18,000) would be given to the families of the deceased workers.[59] At least ten election related deaths were also reported in Bihar.[60] In response to the heatwave related deaths, ECI chief Rajiv Kumar opined that the election should have been conducted a month earlier.[61] Before the polling, in Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, about 33 nominations challenging Narendra Modi were rejected, of which eight applicants claimed that their nominations were rejected incorrectly.[62]
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