The NESCO Center in Goregaon saw a significantly lower attendance of people during the vote counting for three Lok Sabha constituencies on Tuesday. Unlike previous elections, where counting centres were bustling with supporters, candidates, and media personnel, this year the centre had a noticeably subdued atmosphere.

Speaking with the few people who had gathered, mid-day gathered that a number of reasons were behind the low attendance. Many people cited the availability and convenience of digital updates as a primary factor. With live streaming and real-time updates available online, there was less incentive for supporters to be physically present at the counting centre. “I can get all the updates on my phone,” said a BJP supporter requesting anonymity. “There’s no need to come all the way here when I can watch the results unfold from home. This has become one of the main reasons for the low attendance at counting centres.”