The Election Commission announced that Tamil Nadu will vote in a single phase on April 23, with the counting of votes scheduled for May 4. The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect, marking the start of the election process for the 234-member Assembly, whose term ends on May 10, 2026.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said at a press conference in New Delhi that nominations can be filed until April 6, scrutiny will take place on April 7, and candidates can withdraw their nominations until April 9.
Across four states and one Union Territory, polling will take place at 2.19 lakh stations with around 25 lakh election personnel deployed.
Tamil Nadu’s final electoral roll lists 5,67,07,380 voters — 2,77,38,925 men, 2,89,60,838 women, and 7,617 third-gender voters. The electorate includes 12.51 lakh first-time voters aged 18–19, 4.63 lakh persons with disabilities, and 3.99 lakh voters aged 85 and above. The rolls were revised between October 27, 2025 and February 23, 2026.
The main contest is expected between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) and the NDA led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK. Actor Vijay will make his electoral debut through his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
In the 2021 Assembly polls, held on April 6 in a single phase, Tamil Nadu recorded a voter turnout of 73.63%, with counting conducted on May 2.