Secunderabad Cantonment, the country’s largest cantonment, registered a dip in voter turnout in its first-ever electronic election compared to the last polls held in 2008.
Voting was held at 182 polling stations across eight wards of the Cantonment on Sunday. The voting began on a slow note and did not pick up even towards the end of the day when officials determined that only 51 per cent of the 1.67 lakh voters turned out to vote. The voter turnout was higher at 54 per cent in the previous elections.
Voting machines deployed
The Returning Officer for the elections, P. Vittal, said that 375 electronic voting machines were deployed for balloting. “The polling process concluded without any problem, including technical snags. Many people were not aware that they had to enrol for the Cantonment elections separately. Therefore they could not have found their names on the lists,” he said, adding that military personnel also came out to vote in large numbers.
While Mr. Vittal said no untoward incidents were noted, the North Zone police arrested four persons and seized Rs. 74,900 in cash in three instances.
While cash was seized in Bowenpally and Trimulgherry, the cops also seized 30 liquor bottles from a car in Begumpet.
By Sunday evening, EVMs arrived at PG College in Secunderabad to be lodged in a strong room. Officials set up cameras in the room and also installed a television outside to ensure that the machines were not tampered. Counting of votes polled would begin on Tuesday morning. Results are expected to be announced post noon.
