Rajasthani voters in veil and turban, cast their votes during the second phase of India's general election, in Beawar district in Rajasthan state of India on April 26, 2024. Voting for 88 constituencies in the second phase of India's 18th Lok Sabha elections across 13 states and union territories took place on Friday. Despite scorching temperatures, people were seen standing in queues holding their election identity cards, waiting for their turn to cast a vote.
India's 2024 general election is set to be the world's largest democratic exercise, with over 969 million registered voters, more than the combined population of the EU, US, and Russia. The election process, lasting 82 days, will be held in seven phases, covering the entire country from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean, with an estimated 15 million polling staff and security personnel.
The election is expected to cost $14.4 billion, making it the world's most expensive, with political parties and candidates spending lavishly to woo voters.
The Election Commission of India has deployed advanced technology, including electronic voting machines and a Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail, to ensure a secure and transparent voting process.