Tamil Nadu Election 2026: Dates, Schedule Timeline and Key Phases Explained

Last Updated:March 30, 2026, 10:25 IST

Tamil Nadu Election 2026 votes on April 23 across 234 constituencies. Results on May 4. Here is the full schedule, timeline and key phases.

Tamil Nadu is heading to the polls. The Election Commission of India formally announced the schedule on March 15, 2026, setting the stage for one of the most closely watched state elections in the country this year. Voting across all 234 assembly constituencies will take place on April 23, 2026, in a single phase. Results will be declared on May 4, 2026, just days before the current assembly’s term expires on May 10.

Who Is Eligible To Vote?

Over 56.7 million voters are registered to cast their ballots, comprising roughly 27.7 million male voters, 28.9 million female voters and 7,617 third gender voters.

Who Are The Key Players?

The ruling DMK, led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, heads into the election as the incumbent under the Secular Progressive Alliance banner. The alliance, which includes the Indian National Congress, CPI(M), CPI and several smaller regional parties, was further bolstered when the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam joined their fold in February 2026. In 2021, the DMK-led alliance won 159 seats in total, with the DMK alone securing 133 of those, sweeping back to power after a decade in opposition.

On the other side, AIADMK under Edappadi K. Palaniswami remains the principal opposition, having won 66 seats in 2021. The party launched a statewide campaign in July 2025 urging voters to reclaim Tamil Nadu.

The most watched wildcard is actor-turned-politician Vijay, whose party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam announced all 234 candidates on March 29, 2026. Vijay confirmed his party would not align with the NDA, choosing to contest independently. He himself is contesting from two seats.

Key Dates At A Glance

Schedule announced: March 15, 2026

Nomination filing opened: March 15, 2026

Last date for withdrawal of nominations: March 26, 2026

Polling date: April 23, 2026

Counting begins: May 4, 2026, 8 AM

Result date: May 4, 2026

Current assembly term ends: May 10, 2026

Key Phases: The Schedule In Full

Tamil Nadu has consistently voted in a single phase across all elections, and 2026 is no different. All 234 constituencies go to the polls simultaneously on April 23, 2026, with no staggered voting across different districts on different dates, unlike larger states such as West Bengal or Uttar Pradesh where voting is typically spread across several weeks.

Also Read: 27 Seats, 7 Advantages: Why BJP Is The Real Gainer In Tamil Nadu’s NDA Poll Deal

The Election Commission announced the full schedule on March 15, 2026, alongside elections in Assam, Kerala, West Bengal and Puducherry. For Tamil Nadu specifically, the nomination filing process opened immediately after the announcement, with the final list of candidates confirmed following the withdrawal deadline of March 26.

Counting of votes begins at 8 AM on May 4, 2026, with results expected to be declared on the same day. The current assembly’s term runs until May 10, giving a six-day window between results and the formal end of the sitting government, during which the new government will be formed and sworn in.

What Is At Stake?

Tamil Nadu voting as a single block on one day means the political picture becomes clear immediately. No seat trickles in over days. By the evening of May 4, the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu will almost certainly be known. This election is essentially a referendum on five years of Stalin’s administration, and with Vijay’s party entering the fray as a credible third force, the political landscape is more unpredictable than it has been in years.

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