Tamil Nadu Election Results 2026: What Time Will Counting Start? Full Timeline

Votes are counted in multiple rounds, usually covering around 14 booths per table at a time. Trends typically begin to take shape within the first ...

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What is the story about?

Polling for all 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu concluded on April 23, with the state recording an estimated voter turnout of over 85 per cent, the highest since Independence, according to the Election Commission of India.

More than 4.87 crore voters cast their ballots

, including a strong participation from women voters, who outnumbered men at the polling booths. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

The state has an electorate of 5.73 crore, including 2.93 crore women, 2.83 crore men, and over 7,700 third-gender voters. A total of 4,023 candidates contested the elections, making it one of the most closely watched political contests in the country.

ALSO READ: Will Tamil Nadu Pick DMK, AIADMK, BJP Or Vijay? Decoding Their Paths

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HOW COUNTING WILL BEGIN

As per the Election Commission guidelines, counting will begin in a structured and phased manner. Postal ballots, including electronically transmitted postal ballots (ETPBs), will be counted first at 8:00 AM under the supervision of the Returning Officer.

This will be followed by the counting of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) votes starting at 8:30 AM. While both processes run simultaneously, EVM counting often progresses in rounds, with early trends expected to emerge around 9:00 AM.

ROUND-BY-ROUND COUNTING PROCESS

Votes are counted in multiple rounds, usually covering around 14 booths per table at a time. Trends typically begin to take shape within the first hour of counting.

However, the Election Commission has directed that the final round of EVM counting will only be taken up after all postal ballots are fully counted, ensuring procedural clarity.

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WHEN RESULTS WILL BE DECLARED

Final results for each constituency will be declared only after all rounds of counting and mandatory VVPAT verification are completed. Returning Officers will then officially announce the winning candidates.

Given the high turnout, including strong participation in urban centres like Chennai, where turnout stood at over 83 per cent, counting day is expected to be closely watched, with early leads likely emerging shortly after the process begins at 8:30 AM.