Women outnumber Men in TN voter rolls, Gender gap widens ahead of 2026 polls

Tamil Nadu’s final electoral roll for 2026 shows a clear and growing gender shift, with women now forming a majority of the electorate. According to official data released on Monday by Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik, women account for nearly 51 per cent of the state’s 5.67 crore voters, outnumbering men by more than 12.21 lakh .

Of the total 5,67,07,380 electors, 2,89,60,838 are women while 2,77,38,925 are men . This marks a wider gender gap compared to the 2021 Assembly elections, when women exceeded men by about 10.15 lakh. Although the overall electorate has declined by nearly 74 lakh following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) that removed ineligible names, the proportion of female voters has increased from 50.7 per cent in 2021 to 51.07 per cent in 2026 .

Officials attribute the higher share of women voters to improved registration drives, greater political awareness, and the sustained impact of welfare schemes targeting women, including free transport, cash assistance and health initiatives. Past election data also shows that women in Tamil Nadu consistently record higher turnout rates than men, reinforcing their growing electoral influence.

Migration trends have further shaped the numbers. Large-scale movement of working-age men to other states and urban centres for employment has reduced male voter presence in several districts, particularly in industrial and coastal regions. Urban districts like Chennai and Coimbatore still show a female majority, while rural and semi-urban areas display an even stronger gender gap.

The youth voter segment remains significant, though officials note a slower pace of new male registrations compared to female applicants in the 18-29 age group, partly due to migration and job-linked mobility.

With women dominating voter rolls across most districts, political parties are expected to recalibrate their campaign strategies. Greater focus on women-centric policies, safety, employment, and social welfare is likely to shape manifestos and outreach programmes in the run-up to the elections, underlining the decisive role female voters will play in determining Tamil Nadu’s political future.