In a historic moment for democracy, India has set the world record for the most votes cast in a national election. Between 16 April and 13 May 2009, a staggering 417.2 million votes were cast across five phases to elect the 543 members of the 15th Lok Sabha, the lower house of India’s Parliament.

The election, which saw an average voter turnout of 59.7%, took place over the course of nearly a month, with voting conducted on 16, 22/23, 30 April, and 7 and 13 May. The results, announced on 16 May, declared the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), led by the Indian National Congress, as the victors.

India, with approximately 714 million eligible voters in 2009, has long been referred to as the world’s largest democracy, and this monumental election further solidified its position. The election’s massive scale was an unprecedented feat, marking a new chapter in the country’s democratic history.