Guwahati: Assam’s single-phase assembly elections on Thursday witnessed a remarkable build-up in voter turnout, with Election Commission’s two-hourly reports showing participation consistently ahead of the previous election.Despite morning showers and a gloomy sky, voters queued up in large numbers, pushing the turnout curve higher at every reporting round.At 9 am, turnout stood at 17.87%, compared to 11.18% in 2021 — an early surge of nearly seven points. By 11 am, the gap widened further, with 38.92% voters casting their ballots against 28.9% five years ago, a jump of ten points. The momentum carried into the afternoon: at 1 pm, turnout reached 59.63%, up from 48.8% in 2021, again an increase of almost eleven points.By 3 pm, participation climbed to 75.91%, compared to 64.47% in 2021, a difference of more than eleven points. As polling gates closed at 5 pm, turnout stood at 84.42%, comfortably ahead of the 76.66% recorded at the same hour in 2021. These figures are provisional and likely to rise after final compilation, as late-hour voters and remote booths are added.The Election Commission’s data shows a clear pattern: every two-hour block in 2026 registered a rise of 6–11% points over 2021. The build-up was steady, not sporadic, suggesting improved mobilisation and voter enthusiasm across constituencies.The final turnout in 2021 was 82.09%, while 2016 set Assam’s record at 84.67%, the year that marked BJP’s first victory in the state. With 2026 already reporting 84.42% by 5 pm, the state is on course to match or even surpass the historic 2016 figure once late compilations are complete.Officials noted that morning rain slowed some booths, but conditions cleared later, encouraging voters to step out in larger numbers. The steady queues in urban centres and the strong participation in rural belts contributed to the surge.The turnout trajectory underscores a striking feature of Assam’s electoral culture: resilience and enthusiasm. From the early morning drizzle to the closing of gates at 5 pm, voters kept the momentum alive, ensuring that 2026 will be remembered as one of the most participatory elections in the state’s history.
