Analysis · over time

How elections changed

Chandigarh, 1967–2024. 15 general elections tracked.

Median margin

0.56%

↓ 9.73 pts from previous

Effective parties

2.1

↓ 0.19 from previous

NOTA

0.65%

↓ 0.3 pts from previous

[01]Turnout

Weighted votes ÷ electors, election by election

2019 70.6%1 seats

2014 73.71%1 seats

2009 65.51%1 seats

2004 50.92%1 seats

1999 48.34%1 seats

1998 53.24%1 seats

1996 57.48%1 seats

1991 57.31%1 seats

1989 64.84%1 seats

1984 68.1%1 seats

1980 63.0%1 seats

1977 66.53%1 seats

1971 61.96%1 seats

1967 64.48%1 seats

[02]How close the contests were

Median winning margin, election by election

2024 0.56%1 seats

2019 10.29%1 seats

2014 15.36%1 seats

2009 17.16%1 seats

2004 16.84%1 seats

1999 1.93%1 seats

1998 3.67%1 seats

1996 9.25%1 seats

1991 7.06%1 seats

1989 1.83%1 seats

1984 42.46%1 seats

1980 26.85%1 seats

1977 37.75%1 seats

1971 43.54%1 seats

1967 25.67%1 seats

[03]Ballot crowding

Candidates per seat over time

2024 19.019 candidates

2019 36.036 candidates

2014 17.017 candidates

2009 14.014 candidates

2004 17.017 candidates

1999 16.016 candidates

1998 18.018 candidates

1996 48.048 candidates

1991 55.055 candidates

1989 27.027 candidates

1984 33.033 candidates

1980 39.039 candidates

1977 10.010 candidates

1971 11.011 candidates

1967 10.010 candidates

[04]Party fragmentation

Effective number of parties by vote share

2024 2.11 of 8 won seats

2019 2.31 of 24 won seats

2014 3.21 of 10 won seats

2009 2.91 of 7 won seats

2004 2.51 of 8 won seats

1999 2.41 of 7 won seats

1998 2.91 of 10 won seats

1996 3.61 of 14 won seats

1991 3.71 of 10 won seats

1989 2.81 of 9 won seats

1984 2.01 of 4 won seats

1980 2.71 of 5 won seats

1977 1.91 of 4 won seats

1971 2.01 of 4 won seats

1967 3.01 of 5 won seats

[05]NOTA

None of the above, as a share of votes cast

2024 0.65%2,912 votes

2019 0.95%4,335 votes

2014 0.69%3,106 votes

[06]Deposits lost

Share of candidates polling under a sixth of valid votes

2024 89.47%17 of 19

2019 94.44%34 of 36

2014 82.35%14 of 17

2009 78.57%11 of 14

2004 88.24%15 of 17

1999 87.5%14 of 16

1998 88.89%16 of 18

1996 93.75%45 of 48

1991 94.55%52 of 55

1989 92.59%25 of 27

1984 93.94%31 of 33

1980 94.87%37 of 39

1977 80.0%8 of 10

1971 81.82%9 of 11

1967 70.0%7 of 10

[09]Computed insights

Arithmetic over the series above, not commentary

2024 was the most competitive election on record: a median margin of 0.56%, the lowest in the series.
all-time low median margin
Ballots have grown much more crowded: 10.0 candidates a seat in 1967 against 19.0 in 2024.
10.0 → 19.0 over 15 elections
NOTA peaked at 0.95% in 2019 — 4,335 voters chose none of the above.
highest NOTA share across 3 elections
The highest deposit-loss rate was 94.87% in 1980: 37 of 39 candidates polled under a sixth of the valid vote.
peak deposit losses in 1980