New Delhi, Dec 26: In a groundbreaking move, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has released the world’s largest electoral dataset, offering unprecedented insights into the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the state assembly elections in four states. This massive dataset, comprising 100 statistical reports, is designed to enhance transparency and support research into India’s electoral landscape.
The release includes 42 reports on the Lok Sabha elections and 14 reports on each of the four state assembly elections, covering a broad array of data points such as electors, voter turnout, party performance, and demographic voting patterns. The ECI described the dataset as a “treasure trove” for academicians, researchers, and election watchers worldwide.
“The data sets will facilitate granular analysis with comparisons from previous election data already available on the ECI website. These reports will enable time series analysis, tracking long-term trends and shifts in the electoral and political landscape,” an ECI official said.
The released data spans various categories, providing key insights into voter behavior, party performance, and more. Among the data points included are:
- Elector details by constituency, state, and gender
- Voter turnout statistics for each constituency and state
- Vote share analysis by political party
- Gender-based voting patterns and participation of women electors
- Regional variations and detailed constituency results
This wealth of information will be crucial for those looking to perform detailed analyses of voter behavior and electoral trends over time.
The dataset reveals several notable trends from the 2024 elections:
- Voter Participation: The 2024 Lok Sabha elections saw a record-breaking 64.64 crore voters casting their votes, marking a significant milestone.
- Nominations and Candidates: A total of 12,459 nominations were filed, up from 11,692 in 2019. The number of candidates contesting the elections also increased, with 8,360 candidates in 2024, compared to 8,054 in 2019.
- Women Voters: For the first time, female voter participation (65.78%) slightly outpaced that of male voters (65.55%), signaling a shift towards greater women’s enfranchisement.
- Women Candidates: The number of female candidates also rose, with 800 women contesting elections in 2024, compared to 726 in 2019.
- Third-Gender and PwD Voters: There was a 46.4% increase in the number of third-gender electors compared to 2019. Additionally, PwD electors rose to 90.29 lakh in 2024, up from 61.67 lakh in 2019.
- Repolling Statistics: Repolling was required in only 40 polling stations (0.0038% of total polling stations), a sharp decline from 540 stations in 2019.
The release of this comprehensive dataset is a strategic effort by the ECI to address past criticisms regarding non-disclosure of detailed electoral data. By making this information freely available, the ECI aims to foster greater transparency in the election process and provide valuable tools for those analyzing the political and electoral dynamics of India.
The move is expected to be a significant resource for both local and international researchers looking to understand India’s complex electoral system and to track long-term trends in voter behavior and political shifts.
