AnyTime News 
91% Voting Claim Under Scanner—Thousands of Booths Yet to Report
Anytime News Network # | By Pooja Srivastava)
While West Bengal’s Phase-II assembly elections have reportedly recorded a historic voter turnout, the figures have sparked concerns over transparency and data completeness. According to the Election Commission of India, voter participation stood at 91.66% in Phase II, with Phase I recording an even higher 93.19%. The combined turnout of 92.47% is being projected as the highest in the state’s electoral history.
However, the data remains provisional, with over 5,300 polling stations yet to upload their figures. This gap has raised serious questions about the reliability of the “record turnout” narrative. Observers argue that such claims should be treated cautiously until complete and verified data is made available.
Gender-wise figures show 91.07% turnout among men, 92.28% among women, and 91.28% among third-gender voters. Yet, these numbers exclude postal ballots and service voters, further adding to the uncertainty surrounding the final tally.
The polling process was closely monitored by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar along with other officials through live webcasting across all polling stations. Despite these measures, delays in data updates have triggered criticism of the system’s efficiency and reliability.
While the Election Commission introduced several voter-friendly initiatives—such as colored candidate photos on EVM ballots, mobile deposit facilities, redesigned voter slips, and assistance for differently-abled voters—the incomplete data has overshadowed these efforts.
