73.76 per cent polling recorded in Odisha

An estimated 73.76 per cent of over 60 lakh electorate in Odisha has exercised their franchise during the first phase of polls in four Lok Sabha seats and 28 assembly segments, an election official said.

No untoward incident was reported from any part of the state during Thursday's polling, but the election department has recommended fresh polls in two booths, one in Malkangiri district and the other in Ganjam, based on reports of glitches in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), he said.

"According to reports received from the returning officers, an EVM fell on the floor in a Malkangiri booth during last-minute voting, while a defect was detected in another machine in a Ganjam district polling station," Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Surendra Kumar said Friday.

The department is waiting for the Election Commission's decision on the recommendations, he said.

The CEO also noted that "women outnumbered men" at the polling stations.

"We are happy that more women participated in the polling process. An estimated 74.43 per cent of 30,30,222 female voters have cast their votes. Also, 560 voters belonging to the third gender have also exercised their franchise Thursday," he said.

Of the four Lok Sabha constituencies that went to polls, tribal-dominated Nabarangpur Lok Sabha segment registered highest voter turnout at 78.89 per cent, followed by Kalahandi at 75.82 per cent.

Among the assembly segments, Kotpad seat in Koraput registered maximum turnout at 86.83 per cent, while Berhampur constituency recorded 56.34 per cent polling, the lowest among the 28 constituencies.

Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are being held simultaneously in Odisha in four phases. Polling for the next three phases will be held on April 18, 23 and 29.