Polling in the four municipalities—Vizianagaram, Bobbili, Parvathipuram and Salur—in the district that was conducted amid tight security passed off peacefully on Sunday, with average polling percentage of 76.95. Following the Election Commission’s directive, officials issued slips to voters who stood in queues to exercise their franchise and the polling ended by around 7 p.m.
The turnout of voters was dull in the first two hours particularly in Parvathipuram where the percentage of polling registered was 8.51 by 9 a.m. The reason being said was the voters’ slips did not tally with the electoral roll. However, it was rectified.
As the day progressed, voters turned up at the polling booths, braving the scorching heat, and exercised their franchise. The average polling percentage registered was 34.09 at 11a.m., 55.02 at 1p.m. and 68.44 at 3 p.m. Vizianagaram registered the lowest polling percentage of 69.01, while Parvathipuram, Salur recorded polling percentage of 78.93 and 79.72 respectively. Bobbili registered the highest voters’ turnout, with a polling percentage of 80.14.
A number of voters in Vizianagaram complained that their names were not found in the electoral roll. They returned without exercising their franchise.
