Record 83% voter turnout in Goa; 70 % polling in Punjab

AMN

A high voter turnout of 83 per cent was recorded in the Assembly polls in Goa. The state had recorded 81.8 percent polling in last assembly elections. Briefing media in New Delhi this evening, Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha  said the polling passed off peacefully.

Punjab recorded 70 percent polling till 5 PM. The voter turnout in last assembly polls in 2012 was a little over 78 percent. Deputy Election Commissioner Sandeep Saxena said 59 cases of paid news were reported. Voting in the state was by and large peaceful.

The two states went to polls in a single phase today. The final figures may change as reports are yet to come from some polling booths. There were also some reports of EVMs developing technical snags which were replaced.

The election passed off peacefully in Goa with no untoward incident reported from anywhere in the coastal state.

The election passed off peacefully in Punjab except stray incident of violence, which was reported later in the evening in the state 1.98 crore people are eligible to vote in the high- stake election.

Over 200 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed for smooth conduct of electioneering in the state.

For the first time in the country, the state is witnessing the trial of Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail, VVPAT machines which are attached on EVMs in some constituencies where voters get a print out of their vote indicating their choice.

The voting in Amritsar Lok Sabha seat by-election also taking place.