2014 election sees highest ever voter turnout

New Delhi, May 12 (IANS) The national voter turnout of 66.38 percent in the 2014 general election was the highest ever in Indian polls, the Election Commission said on Monday.

"The voting percentage for the whole nation this time was 66.38 percent, which is the highest ever in history," Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi said at a press conference here.

He added that the national voting percentage was likely to increase marginally later.

The previous highest voter turnout was recorded in 1984 which was 64 percent. The turnout this time is considerably higher than 2009, which saw a 58.19 percent turnout.

Zutshi said that 15 states and union territories have recorded their highest ever turnout while 32 states and union territories recorded a turnout which was higher than 2009.