Chennai conundrum: Lower turnout, yet higher ‘percentage’ in Tamil Nadu elections

Chennai's voter turnout of 83.7% masks a decline in absolute numbers, with 23.7 lakh votes polled this year, lower than the 24.16 lakh in 2021 and 24.3 lakh in 2016. The city's electorate has shrunk from over 40 lakh in 2021 to 28.3 lakh in 2026, following a revision in voter rolls. This smaller denominator has inflated the turnout percentage, even as total votes polled declined.