Over 7.91 lakh voters of the total electorate of 9.41 lakh have cast their votes in 930 polling stations across the Union Territory. Women voters turned out in large numbers than men to exercise their franchise.
“The polling was peaceful and orderly except a few sporadic incidents,” Chief Electoral Officer V. Candavelou told reporters on Tuesday.
Stating that the total percentage of polling was recorded as 84.08, he also explained that there was nothing unusual in the polling percentage. Although the polling percentage was low by 2.11 percentage points compared to previous Assembly polls, more number of voters cast their votes in the 2016 polls, he added.
Surprisingly, constituencies with a large number of educated voters such as Raj Bhavan, Kamaraj Nagar and Thattanchavandy recorded relatively low polling percentages.
During the last Assembly polls, 5.8 lakh voters of the total electorate of 6.77 lakh cast their votes. Over 2.63 lakh voters have been added to the total electorate for the current Assembly polls.
Mr. Candavelou said now the total voter base has increased by 2,63,948 from 2011 Assembly polls. Compared to 2011 Assembly elections 2,08,693 more voters voted in this elections and 51,574 more voters cast their votes compared to 2014 parliamentary polls.
Asked to spell out the reason on why over 1.4 lakh did not turn up for voting, Mr. Candavelou said a thorough study would be undertaken after the polling process was completed. He, however, said 24,923 of 35,812 first time voters have cast their votes and 69 of the total 79 transgender voters also cast the votes while 11,236 of 15,636 differently-abled persons exercised their franchise.
100 per cent
Yanam constituency polled the highest percentage of 92.67 and Karaikal North the lowest percentage of 75.1.
Yanam recorded the highest polling percentage region-wise and Mahe the lowest. Yanam also had two polling stations register 100 per cent polling.
Counting centres
All arrangements are in place at counting centres for the process scheduled for Thursday and security has been beefed up in and around the counting centres.
