Satyabrata Sahoo, the Chief Electoral Officer in Tamil Nadu, on Friday, reported that Chennai Central experienced low voter turnout because Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were delayed at certain locations due to technical issues.
“Till 9 AM, it is 12.55 per cent. Chennai Central has the lowest voter turnout of 8.59 per cent. There were delays in EVMs due to technical faults at 4-5 places but all were rectified. The election is going smoothly as of now in the state,” he said.
Nevertheless, the Election Commission’s official voter turnout application indicated that the turnout in the southern state stood at 9.21 percent as of 9 am.
Voting is currently underway for all 39 seats in Tamil Nadu. As per data released by the Election Commission of India, West Bengal witnessed a voter turnout of 15.09 percent, while Madhya Pradesh recorded a turnout of 15 percent as of 9 a.m.
Voting percentages for the states participating in phase 1 elections are as follows: Andaman and Nicobar Islands – 8.64 percent, Arunachal Pradesh – 6.29 percent, Assam – 11.15 percent, Bihar – 9.23 percent, Chhattisgarh – 12.02 percent, Jammu and Kashmir – 10.43 percent, Lakshadweep – 5.59 percent, Maharashtra – 6.98 percent.
The voting percentages for the states participating in phase 1 elections are as follows: Manipur – 11.91 percent, Meghalaya – 13.71 percent, Mizoram – 11.22 percent, Nagaland – 10.64 percent, Puducherry – 10.11 percent, Rajasthan – 10.67 percent, Sikkim – 7.92 percent, Tamil Nadu – 8.25 percent, Tripura – 15.21 percent, Uttar Pradesh – 12.66 percent, Uttarakhand – 10.54 percent.
The voter turnout in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections surpassed 67 percent. In the meantime, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin exercised his franchise in Alwarpet, Chennai, stating that he fulfilled his democratic responsibility to safeguard the country.
MK Stalin also requested to the voters to do their democratic duty. Taking to his official X Handle, the Tamil Nadu CM posted his pictures during the voting and said, “I have done my Democratic duty. I request all should do their democratic duty.”
Voting for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 commenced on Friday across 102 parliamentary constituencies spread over 21 states and Union Territories as the mega seven-phase electoral exercise began at 7:00 am. Voters will exercise the franchise until 6:00 pm.
In the 2019 general elections, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, consisting of the Congress, VCK, MDMK, CPI, CPI (M), IUML, MMK, KMDK, TVK, and AIFB, achieved a sweeping victory, securing 38 out of the 39 seats in the state.