The Election Commission said the ballot in the Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry Assembly elections and the voting in phase three of the Assam and West Bengal elections on Tuesday proceeded peacefully and under COVID protocols -19, with a participation rate ranging from 71% to 79%. from 19h
Voting was conducted at 1,53538 polling stations in 475 Assembly constituencies in the four states and Union Territory of Pondicherry, the EC said.
Tamil Nadu recorded a participation rate of 71.79%, the lowest among the four states. Kerala recorded a turnout of 77.02%, while Pondicherry saw 81.88% of voters vote. In the third round of voting in Assam and West Bengal, the turnout was 82.28% and 77.68% respectively. However, officials said the figures could be revised.
The EC said the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) and Verifiable Paper Voter Audit Trail (VVPAT) had undergone first-level verification, randomization and commissioning in the presence of candidate and party agents . The EC said it made a “record seizure” of ₹ 947.98 crore in Tuesday’s poll.
“The seizure figure, which includes the seizure of money, alcohol, narcotics, gifts, etc., is more than 4,198 times higher than the combined seizure total of ₹ 225.77 crore in GE LA 2016 [General elections to legislative assemblies], “It said
“Today, before the start of the ballot, each of the EVMs and VVPATs was again the subject of a mock poll in the presence of voting agents of the candidates, with a minimum of 50 votes cast on each, according to the standard procedure. At the end of the mock poll, the EVM result was compared with the VVPAT slip result and shown to the polling officers. The non-functioning rate during the simulated survey is lower than comparable / known in the latest surveys, ”the EC said.
Tamil Nadu and the neighboring Union Territory of Pondicherry saw a largely peaceful vote, except for a few minor scuffles. With nearly 4,000 candidates vying for 234 constituencies in a five-party contest, Tamil Nadu recorded an estimated turnout of 71.79% at the end of the ballot.
Pondicherry, where the battle between the UPA and the NDA is taking place, recorded an estimated turnout of 81.88%.
Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo told reporters that there had been no major public order issues throughout the day. The state has an electorate of 6,28,69,955.
Chennai once again recorded a low turnout of just 59.40%. Kallakurichi district recorded the highest turnout with 78%, followed by Namakkal with 77.91%, Ariyalur district with 77.88%, Dharmapuri district with 77.23% and Perambalur with 77. , 08%.
In Pondicherry, which has 30 constituencies, the process has been broadly peaceful, except for bizarre complaints about temporary EVD issues at a few polling stations and minor demonstrations to solicit votes near voting booths.
Assam officials, who brought in 82.28% of the vote until 7 p.m., said the third and final phase is expected to see higher turnout. Voting has always been high in tribal areas dominated by Muslims who went to the polls in this phase. The first two stages of the ballot in 47 and 39 constituencies recorded 79.97% and 80.96% of the votes respectively.
West Bengal registered 77.68% of the polls until 5 p.m. in 31 constituencies that went to the polls in the third phase.
West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Aariz Aftab said the voting was largely peaceful with incidents of violence reported only in some pockets. Four candidates, including two women – one each from the Trinamool Congress and the BJP – were assaulted.