Focus on the BIG picture.
Saturday, Feb 21, 2026
Outside the box.
India's Mammoth Election: 1 Billion Voters Cast Their Ballots Amid Heat, Excitement, and Popularity of Prime Minister Modi
India's national election began on April 11, with over 1 billion people eligible to vote in seven phases over 44 days.
In the first day of polling, 102 constituencies in 21 states and territories held elections.
In Rajasthan, where temperatures reached nearly 40°C, voters queued early to avoid the heat.
Coordinating the election is a massive undertaking due to the large number of registered voters.
At polling stations, voters' identities were checked against registration data in a laborious process.
A public holiday was declared to encourage voting.
India has deployed over 15 million polling staff and security personnel for the elections, where approximately 5.5 million electronic voting machines (EVMs) have been installed.
Voters have their identities verified, cast their votes, and receive indelible ink on their index finger.
EVMs are sealed and stored until results are counted on 4 June.
About half of India's population of 1.4 billion is under 25 years old, with over 18 million first-time voters registered.
Nineteen-year-old Gauranshi Sharma expressed excitement about voting for the first time, feeling it was a significant step into adulthood.
In the upcoming Indian election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to win a third term.
Modi, known for his populist governance with religious identity and Hindu nationalism, has dominated Indian politics for a decade.
He enjoys immense popularity, particularly in Rajasthan, where his party swept all 25 seats in 2019.
A voter, Namita Goel, expressed her support for Modi, stating that under his rule, India has risen to great heights and should be re-elected to continue the progress.
In Rajasthan, where temperatures reached nearly 40°C, voters queued early to avoid the heat.
Coordinating the election is a massive undertaking due to the large number of registered voters.
At polling stations, voters' identities were checked against registration data in a laborious process.
A public holiday was declared to encourage voting.
India has deployed over 15 million polling staff and security personnel for the elections, where approximately 5.5 million electronic voting machines (EVMs) have been installed.
Voters have their identities verified, cast their votes, and receive indelible ink on their index finger.
EVMs are sealed and stored until results are counted on 4 June.
About half of India's population of 1.4 billion is under 25 years old, with over 18 million first-time voters registered.
Nineteen-year-old Gauranshi Sharma expressed excitement about voting for the first time, feeling it was a significant step into adulthood.
In the upcoming Indian election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to win a third term.
Modi, known for his populist governance with religious identity and Hindu nationalism, has dominated Indian politics for a decade.
He enjoys immense popularity, particularly in Rajasthan, where his party swept all 25 seats in 2019.
A voter, Namita Goel, expressed her support for Modi, stating that under his rule, India has risen to great heights and should be re-elected to continue the progress.
