India Conducts World's Largest Democratic Election

KANYARA, INDIA - APRIL 26: Indian villagers Khawaja Didi (L), 70, and Dhaman Cham, 75, tend to a vegetable patch near their home on April 26, 2024 in Kanyara village in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. Villagers say infrastructure and employment opportunities are key issues locally, as the country votes in the general election. 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. (Footage by Rebecca Conway/Getty Images)