Polling for the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly across all 234 constituencies in a single phase, and for Phase 1 of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly covering more than half of its 294 constituencies, was held on April 23, 2026 (Thursday) under the schedule notified earlier by the Election Commission of India. The remaining West Bengal constituencies are scheduled to vote in Phase 2 on April 29, 2026, with counting of votes for both states fixed for May 4, 2026. Briefing the press at the close of polling, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said that final voter turnout reached 84.69 per cent in Tamil Nadu and 91.78 per cent in West Bengal Phase 1, both described as the highest-ever assembly polling percentages recorded in either state since Independence. The CEC saluted every voter, calling the turnout historic, and credited the response to extensive voter awareness campaigns, free auto rides for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and queueless polling station design. Tamil Nadu's polling marked a tightly contested three-way race between the ruling DMK-Congress alliance, the AIADMK-led NDA, and TVK led by Vijay; West Bengal Phase 1 saw a direct contest between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP, with the Left-Congress alliance also fielding candidates. The Commission has also declared May 4 a dry day in poll-bound states and Union Territories. The phase 1 turnout sets a new benchmark for participation in two of India's largest electorates and is being read as an early signal of high political engagement going into the counting day.