Record Voter Turnout Reported in West Bengal Assembly Polls

India’s electoral history has witnessed a record-breaking turnout of 99.62% at a polling booth during the first phase of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, according to booth-level data.

The unprecedented turnout was recorded at Booth No. 238 in Uttarbil–Majhpara village under the Garbeta Assembly constituency in Paschim Medinipur. The booth, located in a Muslim-majority area, saw 533 out of 536 registered voters cast their ballots by 5 PM, with one additional vote submitted via postal ballot—bringing the total turnout to 99.62%.

Election officials reportedly double-checked the figures multiple times to ensure accuracy. Two voters were unable to participate due to illness.

High turnout rates were also observed in other Muslim-majority constituencies, including areas in Murshidabad such as Raghunathganj, Bhagawangola, and Lalgola, where participation exceeded 95%. At a booth in Domkal constituency, turnout reached 98%, with all 723 registered voters reportedly belonging to the Muslim community.

Some voters indicated that concerns over potential removal from voter rolls influenced participation. They claimed that many names had already been excluded from electoral lists, and abstaining from voting could increase the risk of further deletions.

While the Election Commission of India attributed the high turnout to measures ensuring free and fair elections, political observers suggested that fear linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process may have played a role.

Local election officials acknowledged that apprehension among voters—particularly the belief that not voting could lead to removal from future voter lists—may have contributed to the unusually high participation rates.