India is gearing up for the largest general election in the world, with nearly one billion eligible voters heading to the polls over a period of just over six weeks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a rare third term in power, facing opposition parties united in an alliance to unseat him. This election will showcase the world’s largest democracy in action.
With a population of over 1.4 billion people, India has about 969 million eligible voters for the upcoming election. This surpasses the combined populations of North America and the European Union. Motivated by a variety of issues, including unemployment, welfare benefits, infrastructure, and democracy, about 12% of the global population will participate in this election. The number of women registered to vote has increased significantly, as has the number of voters in the 18-29 age group.
Indians will be voting for 543 seats in the 545-seat lower house of parliament, the Lok Sabha. The winning party will appoint the prime minister and form the ruling government. The voting process will begin on April 19 and continue until June 1, with results being announced on June 4. Some states will have a single voting day, while others like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal will vote over a span of seven days, covering a significant portion of the population.
The voting process in India will take place electronically across more than a million polling stations, a 1.2% increase from the previous election. This massive operation involves around 15 million polling officials and security staff who will travel by various means including road, boat, camel, train, and helicopter to ensure all citizens have the opportunity to vote. India’s election is a monumental exercise in democracy that captures the essence of the world’s largest democracy in action.