Low voter turnout of 45 per cent in UP phase 1

New Delhi, Apr 7 (UNI) The first phase of assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh (UP) witnessed a low voter turnout of just 45 per cent till 1630 hours and this figure is likely to go up marginally when the final figures will be made available.

Briefing newsmen, Deputy Election Commissioner R Balakrishnan said the polling was spread over 13 districts covering 62 assembly constituencies.

He said the total number of voters was placed at 1.61 crores with the fate of 839 candidates sealed in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

He said around 88 per cent of the voters used their Electronic Photo Identity Card (EPIC) to identify themselves at the booths.

As many as 16000 polling stations were set up and around 18000 EVMs were used. Some minor problems were reported in 105 EVMs which were set right immediately.

The Lok Sabha byelection of Bilhaur which comes under the Kanpur dehat area was also held along with the first phase of elections in UP.

He said there was no case of any booth capturing or any type of election related violence.

UNI