Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar addresses a press conference to announce the schedule for assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Sunday.
| Photo Credit:
ANI
As the Election Commission announces the key date for Tamil Nadu polls, the first-time and youngster voters base at around 20.7 per cent of the total electors count in the State is likely to play a key role.
At 12.51 lakh, the number of first time voters (18-19 years of age) in Tamil Nadu is around 2.2 per cent of the total electors count, and with 1.05 crore voters in the 20-29 years of age, this is another 18.5 per cent of the total 5.67 crore electors of the state, EC data shows.
While even in the 2021 State Assembly Polls, Tamil Nadu had around 20 per cent of young voters, the choice of the youth in this year Polls assumes significance with the presence of Actor Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in the mix.
With Vijay’s rallies drawing in huge crowd of youngsters and his fan base largely in the 18-29 age group, all eyes will be on the choice that this group of voters make.
“Change in political arena”
Analysts such as JVC Sreeram, Psephologist & Political Strategist, say that first-time voters typically vote for the “change in political arena.” In the previous Assembly Polls (2021), the first-time voters leaned towards Naam Tamilar Katchi in the rural areas and Makkal Needhi Maiyam in urban areas, and this time there is a sense that a share of the young voters will vote for TVK, he said.
The Election Commission (EC) on its part said it has done its bit to maximize participation from youngsters including a focus on the enrolment of young voters especially who attained the qualifying age on 01.01.2026, the EC said in its statement.
TN’s first-time voter base is also among the highest when compared with other States going to polls in the next month. While Assam also has 2.3 per cent first-time voters, it 1.6 per cent in Kerala, and 0.8 per cent in West Bengal.
“I urge you all to participate in this great democratic exercise responsibly and cast your vote with pride, responsibility and confidence,” Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said at the press conference on Sunday.
Published on March 15, 2026