Tamil Nadu Elections 2026: Polling ends across 234 Assembly constituencies; 85% turnout recorded

Gyanesh Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner of India, said, "Highest ever percentage of polling in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu since Independence - ECI salutes each voter of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu."

 Tamil Nadu recorded 85 per cent of approximate voter turnout on Thursday as polling for elections to 234 assembly constituencies ended across the state.

EVMs are being sealed by polling officials as the voting for the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election 2026  concludes. As of 5 pm, the approximate voter turnout of 82.24% has been recorded in Tamil Nadu.

 Voting ends in ten assembly constituencies at 6 pm in Madurai. EVMs are being sealed as polling stations close.

A newlywedded couple in the Tiruchirappalli West constituency cast their vote immediately after their wedding ceremony.

Polling ends across 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu; those waiting in queues allowed to vote.

Chennai records 81.34 per cent polling till 5 PM, says Election Commission.

The state has surpassed its 2021 turnout of 73.63%, indicating increased voter participation in the current polls.

Tamil Nadu recorded 82.24 per cent voting till 5 pm on Thursday as polling for elections to 234 assembly constituencies was underway across the state.

 Tamil Nadu recorded 82.24 per cent voting till 5 pm on Thursday as polling for elections to 234 assembly constituencies was underway across the state.

 Special voting arrangements have been made in the Srirangam Assembly constituency for the visually impaired voters. The voting machines are equipped with Braille features to enable independent voting. Visually impaired voters are allowed to bring an assistant to help them cast their vote.

 PMK candidate Sowmiya Anbumani casts her vote at Karnataka Sangh Higher Secondary School in Dharmapuri constituency.

 Youth should come out and vote for a candidate they think is good for their future, says Sellur K. Raju after casting his vote in Madurai.

Singer Latha Rajinikanth, wife of Superstar Rajinikanth, casts her vote at Stella Maris College Polling booth in Chennai.

TVK chief Vijay on Thursday requested the Election Commission to extend polling by two hours till 8 PM for the Assembly elections being held across 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu. In a letter addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner, he also urged for deployment of emergency public transport services to facilitate a large number of people to cast their votes.

 EVM malfunction delays voting at Avadi booth in Chennai by over an hour.

Chennai records 68.13 per cent polling till 3 PM, says Election Commission. 

Tamil Nadu records 70 per cent polling till 3 pm, says Election Commission.

BJP candidate GPSK Nagendran casts his vote in Ramanathapuram.

BJP members staged a protest outside a polling station in Mylapore during the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, alleging that DMK cadres attempted to influence voters.

BJP candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan claimed that certain individuals, who were neither voters nor authorised agents, were displaying the DMK symbol and images of Chief Minister M K Stalin on their phones near the booth. She alleged that such actions were aimed at influencing voters and said the party would not accept it, expressing confidence that people were aware and would respond accordingly.

A robot developed by a student of Government Arts College is greeting voters and distributing sweets at a polling station on campus, adding a technological touch to Tamil Nadu’s election day.

Speaking to ANI, student Vimal Vijayan said the initiative aims to promote 100 per cent voting, with the robot guiding people on how to stand in queues and cast their votes. He said the team developed the robot’s voice processing and remote control model, adding that two such robots have been deployed and have received a positive response.

BJP leader and former Tamil Nadu state president K Annamalai on Thursday raised concerns over the election process in Coimbatore South, while urging voters to turn out in large numbers.

After casting his vote, he said the process had been vitiated in the constituency and in parts of the state over the past few days, though he added that it was the party’s duty to support the Election Commission. He expressed hope that people would participate actively and said the party had raised its concerns with the authorities, leaving it to the Commission to decide further action.

Tamil Nadu has witnessed an impressive voter turnout of 56.81% till 1 pm in the ongoing assembly elections. Voting will continue till 6 pm. EVM glitches have been reported in multiple districts, halting the voting process for a brief span.

Polling was disrupted for nearly an hour in Nallipalayam in Namakkal district after an electronic voting machine developed a fault at one of the booths. Officials said the issue was detected during the morning session.

The machine was later repaired, after which polling resumed.

Chennai Police Commissioner Abhin Dinesh Modak said more than 28,000 security personnel have been deployed across the city amid the ongoing Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

He added that extensive security arrangements have been put in place to ensure smooth and peaceful polling.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore said the election is very important and likely to be decisive, noting strong voter participation with around 36 per cent turnout by 11 am. He said the steady rise in footfall at polling stations was a positive sign.

He also raised concerns over inadequate facilities such as drinking water for voters and said he would take up the issue with returning officers. Tagore added that he cast his vote in the Thirupparankundram segment and expressed hope that voters would reject the RSS BJP AIADMK backed candidate there.

TVK chief Vijay has written to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that thousands of voters were left stranded at major bus terminals in Chennai and other cities, which he said affected their ability to vote.

In his letter, he described the situation as an “intentional attempt at misplanning” by the state transport system and raised concerns over the violation of voting rights.

All India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnettra Kazhagam General Secretary V K Sasikala cast her vote at a polling station at Stella Maris College in Chennai.

Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin said the Tamil Nadu Assembly election is very important and that he came out to exercise his right to vote.

He added that he has done his part and urged others to do the same, expressing hope that whoever comes to power will bring change to the state.

Here's a district-wise voter turnout breakdown in Tamil Nadu elections as per the Election Commission.

Senior journalist N Ram said the performance of actor-turned-politician Vijay and his party could significantly influence the Assembly election outcome. He noted that if Vijay secures over 20 per cent of the vote, it may not translate into many seats but would still represent a substantial achievement.

He added that such a vote share could push the overall tally of an alliance to around 180 seats, compared to a more typical expectation of 155 to 160 seats for the DMK-led alliance, with the DMK likely securing a single-party majority. He also pointed to the party’s strengthened grassroots organisation and the Chief Minister’s governance approach as key factors.

Polling was delayed by around 30 minutes at two polling stations in Tirupur district due to technical issues in electronic voting machines. At the M N Murugappa Chettiyar Government Higher Secondary School on Uthukuli Road, the problem was reported shortly after the first vote was cast and was fixed within about 20 minutes.

A similar issue was reported at a polling station on Noyyal Street, where two EVMs developed faults. Polling resumed after a delay of around 30 minutes once the glitches were rectified.

Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, contesting from the Edappadi constituency, cast his vote at the Panchayat Union Primary School polling station in Siluvalpalayam on Thursday during the ongoing Assembly elections.

Speaking to the media after voting, he urged people to participate in the democratic process and cast their ballots. He also expressed strong confidence in the victory of the AIADMK-BJP alliance.

According to the Election Commission, total voter turnout till 9 am has been recorded at 17.69 per cent during the early hours of voting in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections 2026. 

After casting his vote, Chief Minister and DMK candidate from Kolathur, M K Stalin said that just as he exercised his right, everyone should fulfil their democratic duty, stressing its importance.

He also expressed confidence in the outcome, saying that Tamil Nadu will win.

When asked about actor Ajith Kumar's reported statement, "we don’t need change", he says, "What he said is right."

MNM chief and actor Kamal Haasan, along with his daughter Shruti Haasan, showed their inked fingers after casting their votes in Chennai during the Tamil Nadu assembly elections 2026.

On being asked, how confident is he of a second term, Kamal Haasan says, "Yes".

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and his wife cast their votes at a polling centre in Chennai during the assembly elections 2026. Stalin is contesting the election from the Kolathur seat.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday called on the people of Tamil Nadu to exercise their democratic right in support of inclusive welfare and to oppose those seeking to undermine federal rights.

In a post on X, Kharge said the election was a fight to secure people’s rights and to protect federalism, rationality, equality, justice and freedom. He urged voters to take a stand against attempts to erode federal rights by participating in the democratic process.

Naam Tamilar Katchi chief coordinator Senthamilan Seeman cast his vote at a polling station in Neelankarai, Chennai, during the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on Thursday.

Seeman is contesting from the Karaikudi constituency, held by the Congress since 2016, where he faces sitting MLA S Mangudi and AMMK candidate Therpoki V Pandi. He appealed to voters to support change.

Voting was briefly halted at Booth 295 in Thoothukudi’s Duvipuram after a malfunction was reported in the control unit of an electronic voting machine, according to PTI.
Officials are working to resolve the issue, and polling is expected to resume once the technical fault is rectified.

The 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election is emerging as one of the most closely watched contests in recent years, marked by a blend of established political players and new entrants reshaping the landscape.

While the main contest continues to be between the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the AIADMK led alliance, the entry of actor turned politician C Joseph Vijay, popularly known as Vijay, has introduced a new element of uncertainty, especially among younger and urban voters. Read more

State BJP vice president Khushbu Sundar casts her vote at a polling booth in Mylapore. The constituency sees a contest between BJP's Tamilisai Soundararajan here and DMK's D. Velu.

Tamil Nadu's electorate is 5.73 crore strong and they will vote in as many as 75,064 polling stations in 33,133 locations to decide the fortunes of 4,023 candidates. The total electorate comprises 2.93 women, 2.83 crore men, and 7,728 third-gender persons.

The Election Commission has deployed 1,06,418 ballot units along with 75,064 control units and VVPAT machines.

Actor Ajith Kumar cast his vote at a polling station in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, during the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, drawing a large crowd of fans and onlookers.

His arrival led to chaotic scenes outside the booth, with people gathering in large numbers to catch a glimpse of the actor. Police personnel were deployed to manage the crowd and ensure smooth polling, as many attempted to move closer to the premises.

Chief Minister M K Stalin is contesting from Kolathur, while his son and deputy Udhayanidhi Stalin is in the fray from Chepauk Thiruvallikeni. Edappadi K Palaniswami is contesting from the Salem region, and O Panneerselvam from Bodinayakkanur.

Actor Vijay is contesting from Perambur, and Seeman from Karaikudi. Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, led by Vijay, is contesting all 234 seats, adding a new dimension to the electoral contest.

The contest features four principal players, the DMK-led alliance, the AIADMK-BJP alliance, Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), and Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

With multiple parties in the fray, vote splitting is expected to play a significant role across several constituencies.

Over 4000 candidates in fray

Polling has begun across Tamil Nadu for the crucial Assembly elections, with voters queueing early at booths across the state.

More than 5.73 crore eligible voters are set to cast their ballots, deciding the fate of 4,023 candidates in the fray. The outcome will determine who forms the next government in the 234 member Assembly.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to the people of Tamil Nadu to come out and exercise their voting rights for the assembly elections 2026.

"As the people of Tamil Nadu prepare to vote in the Assembly elections, I urge all voters to fulfill this sacred democratic duty with great enthusiasm. In particular, I call upon the youth and women of Tamil Nadu to turn out in large numbers and pave the way for a record turnout of votes," he wrote in a post on X.

The high-stakes contest is largely between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance. Chief Minister M K Stalin is seeking a second term, while AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami is aiming to return to power after 5 years.

A total of 4,59,039 first time voters have been enrolled.

Polling will be held at 75,064 stations across 33,133 locations. The Election Commission has deployed 1,06,418 ballot units, along with 75,064 control units and VVPAT machines. To avoid technical disruptions, a reserve of 20 per cent for EVMs and 30 per cent for VVPATs has been maintained, according to the Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer.

The main contenders include the DMK-led alliance, the AIADMK-BJP alliance, Naam Tamilar Katchi, and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.

Vote splitting is expected to play a significant role across several constituencies.