## India's Lok Sabha Elections Begin with a Google Doodle
The 2024 Lok Sabha elections in India have officially begun, marked by a special Google Doodle featuring the traditional ink mark on the index finger. Clicking the doodle leads users to the Google Search results page for "2024 General Elections," providing easy access to information about the ongoing polls.
The first phase of the elections is currently underway, with significant voter turnout across 21 states and Union Territories. This phase involves 102 parliamentary seats, with eleven states and Union Territories completing their polling by the end of Friday. This includes all seats in Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, 12 seats in Rajasthan, five in Maharashtra, and all seats in six Northeastern states plus three Union Territories. Additionally, state assembly elections are happening concurrently in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.
Out of the 102 seats contested in this phase, 18 are reserved for Scheduled Castes and 11 for Scheduled Tribes.
Collaborating with the Election Commission of India to integrate critical voting information into Google Search and YouTube.
Utilizing AI and human reviewers to enforce policies against misleading content on its platforms.
Requiring identity verification for election ad publishers and providing transparency about election ad funding and expenditures.
Supporting news organizations and fact-checkers with resources to combat misinformation and detect deepfakes.
Implementing labels on AI-generated content to help users identify and understand such content on YouTube and other platforms.
Through these initiatives, Google aims to empower voters with accurate information and promote a fair and transparent election process.