Kolkata: Bengal's centenarian voters turned out in striking numbers during the two-phase Assembly elections, with 7,268 out of 7,492 electors aged 100 years or above casting their votes. This represents a voter turnout of nearly 97%, as stated by additional CEO Arindam Neogi. Officials attributed the high participation to the home polling facility, which allowed elderly voters to cast their ballots from home. Those who could not vote were reportedly too ill, bedridden, or suffering from dementia.
Turnout Comparison Across Age Groups
Across all age groups, the average voter turnout in the two phases of the election stood at 92.94%, slightly lower than the centenarian turnout. The revised number of 100-plus voters in Bengal was 7,492, down sharply from approximately 13,500 recorded during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Election officials explained that this drop reflects corrections in electoral rolls, with many names of deceased voters that had not been deleted earlier now removed.
Gender and Regional Distribution
Among the 7,492 centenarian voters in Bengal, 5,406 were women and 2,086 were men, meaning nearly 72% of these oldest electors were female. In the second phase, 3,243 centenarian voters cast their ballots. However, Kolkata recorded a low presence: Kolkata North and Kolkata South constituencies together had only 84 voters in this age group, of whom 61 voted, while Kolkata Port had no such voter. An Election Commission official linked the lower count in Kolkata to better maintenance of age records and certificates in urban areas. In rural Bengal, age is often calculated based on declarations, which might partly explain the higher concentration of centenarians outside the city.
Expert Insights on Regional Differences
Partha Mondal, a geriatric medicine expert, suggested that Kolkata's lower numbers could also be linked to pollution and sedentary lifestyle, while rural residents benefit from cleaner air, greater physical activity, healthier sleep patterns, and stronger social bonds.
District-Wise Centenarian Voting
South 24-Parganas recorded the highest number of 100-plus voters casting ballots at 853, followed by Nadia with 791 and North 24-Parganas with 698. In North 24-Parganas, among such voters was 104-year-old Nanibala Debnath from Ashoknagar, who used the home polling facility and has reportedly never missed voting.
Constituency-Level Highlights
At the constituency level, Chakulia in North Dinajpur had the highest concentration of centenarian voters at 154. North Dinajpur district had 557 such voters, of whom 531 cast their votes. In Murshidabad, all 606 centenarian voters exercised their franchise. In West Midnapore, where 338 centenarians voted, three individuals aged 112 years cast their ballots at home. Usharani Mal from Narayangarh, keen on voting, appreciated the home voting facility given her mobility problems. The two other 112-year-olds—Bhuanti Manna from Datan and Srabani Mishra from Pingla—said the home facility made them feel valued.
Challenges Faced by Some Voters
Not all had a smooth experience. Gandhari Jana, a 102-year-old voter from Ghatal, expressed discontent over the Special Identification Registration (SIR) process as she was summoned for a hearing because of a mapping problem. Officials later arranged the hearing at her home, considering her age and mobility issues.
