Odisha's Third Phase Elections Witness 74.45% Voter Turnout

In a significant turnout, Odisha witnessed 74.45 per cent of its electorate casting their votes in the third phase of the simultaneous elections for six Lok Sabha seats and 42 assembly constituencies on Saturday. The state, which has a total of 94.48 lakh voters, saw polling across 10,581 booths in key constituencies including Sambalpur, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, and Puri. This notable participation rate is exclusive of postal ballots, as confirmed by an official.

Sambalpur led the voter turnout with an impressive 79.50 per cent, closely followed by Keonjhar at 78.97 per cent and Dhenkanal at 78.01 per cent. Puri also saw a healthy turnout of 75.43 per cent, while Cuttack and Bhubaneswar recorded lower figures at 71.20 per cent and 64.49 per cent respectively. This year's turnout marks an increase from the 71.36 per cent recorded in these six seats during the 2019 elections.

Among the assembly constituencies, Athamalik topped the chart with an 85.69 per cent voter turnout. Other constituencies like Chhendipada, Pallahara, and Kuchinda also saw high participation rates of 84.36 per cent, 82.98 per cent, and 82.89 per cent respectively. However, Bhubaneswar-North, Bhubaneswar-Central, and Barabati-Cuttack experienced lower turnouts.

The voting process was largely peaceful despite some isolated incidents of clashes, EVM malfunctions, and complaints regarding missing names from voter lists. In a move to facilitate voting for all, more than 90,000 electors utilized postal ballots in this phase of elections held on May 25. This facility was extended to differently-abled persons, senior citizens above the age of 85, individuals engaged in emergency services, and government employees on election duty.

For the first time in Odisha's electoral history, elderly voters were given the option to vote from the comfort of their homes, a facility that was availed by many to exercise their franchise without having to visit polling stations.

The increased voter turnout and the peaceful conduct of elections reflect the robust democratic spirit of Odisha's electorate. With enhanced facilities such as postal ballots and home voting for senior citizens, the state has set a commendable example in ensuring inclusivity and accessibility in the electoral process.