Analysis · over time

How elections changed

Puducherry, 1967–2024. 15 general elections tracked.

Turnout

78.92%

↓ 2.31 pts from previous

Median margin

16.9%

↓ 8.0 pts from previous

Effective parties

2.4

↑ 0.06 from previous

NOTA

1.21%

↓ 0.34 pts from previous

Women elected

0.0%

↑ 0.0 pts from previous

[01]Turnout

Weighted votes ÷ electors, election by election

2024 78.92%1 seats

2019 81.24%1 seats

2014 82.1%1 seats

2009 79.81%1 seats

2004 76.07%1 seats

1999 63.27%1 seats

1998 62.78%1 seats

1996 75.35%1 seats

1991 67.71%1 seats

1989 66.71%1 seats

1984 72.28%1 seats

1980 80.36%1 seats

1977 73.63%1 seats

1971 70.1%1 seats

1967 74.85%1 seats

[02]How close the contests were

Median winning margin, election by election

2024 16.9%1 seats

2019 24.9%1 seats

2014 8.2%1 seats

2009 15.1%1 seats

2004 14.3%1 seats

1999 5.4%1 seats

1998 8.8%1 seats

1996 0.1%1 seats

1991 16.8%1 seats

1989 8.7%1 seats

1984 22.4%1 seats

1980 38.4%1 seats

1977 8.7%1 seats

1971 37.7%1 seats

1967 6.4%1 seats

[03]Ballot crowding

Candidates per seat over time

2024 26.026 candidates

2019 18.018 candidates

2014 30.030 candidates

2009 28.028 candidates

2004 21.021 candidates

1999 9.09 candidates

1998 9.09 candidates

1996 21.021 candidates

1991 13.013 candidates

1989 11.011 candidates

1984 10.010 candidates

1980 3.03 candidates

1977 4.04 candidates

1971 4.04 candidates

1967 3.03 candidates

[04]Party fragmentation

Effective number of parties by vote share

2024 2.41 of 8 won seats

2019 2.31 of 11 won seats

2014 4.11 of 12 won seats

2009 2.71 of 11 won seats

2004 2.61 of 8 won seats

1999 3.31 of 4 won seats

1998 3.01 of 8 won seats

1996 3.11 of 9 won seats

1991 2.41 of 10 won seats

1989 2.31 of 6 won seats

1984 2.11 of 4 won seats

1980 1.91 of 3 won seats

1977 2.11 of 3 won seats

1971 1.91 of 3 won seats

1967 2.91 of 3 won seats

[05]NOTA

None of the above, as a share of votes cast

2024 1.21%9,763 votes

2019 1.54%12,199 votes

2014 3.01%22,268 votes

[06]Deposits lost

Share of candidates polling under a sixth of valid votes

2024 92.31%24 of 26

2019 88.89%16 of 18

2014 90.0%27 of 30

2009 92.86%26 of 28

2004 90.48%19 of 21

1999 66.67%6 of 9

1998 66.67%6 of 9

1996 90.48%19 of 21

1991 84.62%11 of 13

1989 81.82%9 of 11

1984 80.0%8 of 10

1980 33.33%1 of 3

1977 50.0%2 of 4

1971 50.0%2 of 4

1967 0.0%0 of 3

[08]Incumbent re-election rate

Share of sitting members who won again

2014 0.0%0 of 1 re-elected

2009 0.0%0 of 1 re-elected

1996 100.0%1 of 1 re-elected

1989 100.0%1 of 1 re-elected

1984 100.0%1 of 1 re-elected

1980 0.0%0 of 1 re-elected

1971 0.0%0 of 1 re-elected

[09]Computed insights

Arithmetic over the series above, not commentary

Turnout has fallen for three elections running: 82.1% (2014) → 81.24% (2019) → 78.92% (2024).
three consecutive falls
Ballots have grown much more crowded: 3.0 candidates a seat in 1967 against 26.0 in 2024.
3.0 → 26.0 over 15 elections
In 2014, 0.0% of sitting members who re-stood were re-elected — below the series average of 42.86%.
0.0 vs avg 42.86 across 7 elections
NOTA peaked at 3.01% in 2014 — 22,268 voters chose none of the above.
highest NOTA share across 3 elections
The highest deposit-loss rate was 92.86% in 2009: 26 of 28 candidates polled under a sixth of the valid vote.
peak deposit losses in 2009