SHILLONG, FEB 27: Elections in the state was carried out peacefully with the voter turnout being recorded till 4 pm at 67 per cent (12.1 lakh) of the over 18 lakh electorate who exercised their franchise to elect the tenth Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.
However, there were few technical glitches compared with the previous poll, in 2013, when cases of malfunctioning of the voting machines equipped with Voters Verifiable Paper Audit Trial (VVPAT) and used for the first time in the state was reported.
In view of this, there is possibility of re-polling in three of 3025 polling stations across the state.
Polling on Tuesday was held in 59 out of 60 Assembly constituencies as election for Williamnagar constituency has been postponed following the death of an NCP candidate, who was killed in an IED blast recently.
Minus Williamnagar, altogether there are a total of 361 candidates including 32 females and 80 Independents in the fray. A total of 18, 09,818 are eligible voters including 9, 13,701 females and 8, 98, 739 males. Of these, a total of 89,045 are first time voters.
“Till 4pm, the voter turnout was at 67 per cent but the figure is likely to go up as lots of information are still awaited from far flung areas keeping in mind that communication is a challenge due to hilly terrain,” Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor said.
It may be mentioned that in the last 2013 elections, the turnout of voters was at 87.97 percent.
Asked, Kharkongor said they are anticipating that the total percentage of voter turnout would be touching 80 per cent (by tomorrow) while adding that as per preliminary report on town areas, voting was slightly not so responsive.
The Chief Electoral Officer however said that the elections was by and large peaceful across the state with no poll related untoward incidents reported except for cases of malfunctioning of the EVMs and VVPATs in some of the polling stations.
About 28 Balloting Units (0.93 per cent), 28 Controlling Units (0.93 per cent) and 88 VVPATs (2.91 percent) of the 3025 EVMs and VVPATs were malfunctioned and replaced immediately, he said.
Due to this, it has led to delays in voting by the voters who were made to stand in long queues even as some even given up and left the polling stations.
Citing reasons, Kharkongor said there were linking errors committed by the polling officials while operating the machines which include wrong connection of the BU, CU into the VVPAT and the other was due to low battery or loose connection.
“These are technical glitches since it is for the first time that the VVPAT is being used in the state and some polling officials (not all) had problems in coping up as earlier they were exposed only to the use of EVMs,” he said.
Informing that there is a possibility of re-polling in one of the polling booths, Kharkongor said the incident were EVMs are mixed up took place at Kyndong Tuber polling station under Raliang constituency in West Jaintia Hills District.
“There was a mixed up of EVMs while replacing after there was malfunctioning of two-three times. The malfunctioned EVMs for Kyndong-Tuber were replaced with EVMs meant for Mookaiaw constituency,” he said.
“We are waiting for a report from the deputy commissioner to be sent to the Election Commission for necessary decision on the matter,” he added.
The chief electoral officer further informed that there were also aberrations when polling officials in two polling stations forgot to delete the mock poll datas from the voting machines. This was at Sibari polling station in South Garo Hills District and Hasuragoan in South West Garo Hills District.
“A decision will also be taken for re-polling in these respective polling stations,” he added.
Meanwhile, Kharkongor informed that scrutiny of the presiding officer’s dairies will be held tomorrow in presence of the observers whether they tally with the votes polled recorded in the machines.
Of 3025 polling stations, a total of 552 were fitted with cameras while 193 were put under web casting besides 67 all women polling stations and 63 model polling stations.
The CEO also informed that oone CRPF personnel who was on duty at Ampati was also air lifted to Guwahati after he complain of intestinal problems.
By Our Reporter
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