Assam recorded 77.21% voter turnout on Thursday in the second phase of the ongoing State Assembly election 2021, as informed by Election Commission (EC) officials at 9 pm.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) earlier said the state recorded 73.03% voter turnout by 5 pm on Thursday.
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The polling for the second phase of the Assam Assembly election 2021 was held for 39 Assembly constituencies.
“The voter turnout reported by 5 pm from the 39 ACs of phase 2 in Assam is 73.03 %,” the Election Commission of India said in a statement.
More than 73 lakh electorates across 10,592 polling stations were registered to exercise their franchise in this phase.
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The number of polling stations has increased in view of the fact that the number of voters per polling station has been reduced from 1500 to 1000 keeping social distancing norms in view.
Polling across ACs was conducted under strict security arrangements.
Also read: Assam Assembly election: 63% voters cast vote till 3 pm in phase II polls
Election Commission has laid out an elaborate security plan to ensure smooth and safe conduct of elections.
Eighteen Police Observers have been deployed by ECI to ensure safe environment during the elections.
Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) along with the local police force have been deployed to ensure peaceful, intimidation free and conducive atmosphere for the smooth conduct of elections in a free, fair, inclusive and accessible manner.
Route marches in vulnerable pockets, regular point patrolling and other confidence-building measures were carried out to reassure voters, especially those belonging to the weaker sections of society.
Webcasting arrangements were put in place for 5,193 polling stations in Assam, the EC stated.
To ensure inclusive and accessible elections, ECI has extended the option of postal ballot facility to PwDs, Senior Citizens above the age of 80 years, COVID-19 suspect or affected persons and persons employed in essential services.
The observers at the ground level oversaw that proper arrangements for facilitation were made available for these voters.
Keeping pandemic concerns in view, all the polling stations followed COVID-19 safety protocols, it said.
During this phase, a total of 10,819 ballot units (BUs), 10,592 control units (CUs) and 10,592 VVPATs were used in Assam.
“As per standard procedure all these EVMs and VVPATs had already undergone first level checking, randomisation, and commissioning in the presence of political parties/candidates agents,” the Election Commission said.
During the ongoing elections till second phase, a record seizure has been achieved in the state.
The seizure figure includes seizure of cash, liquor, narcotics and freebies.
Till date, Rs. 112.54 crore has been seized in Assam as against a total seizure of Rs. 16.58 crore in the Legislative Assembly election in 2016.
In Assam, 603 Flying Squads (FS) and 762 Static Surveillance Teams (SST) were operationalised to check movement of cash, liquor, drugs & freebies, the Election Commission stated.
In Assam, 6 Air Intelligence Units (AIU) of IT Department have been set up at Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Silchar, Tezpur and Lakhimpur, the EC said.
A total number of 1306 cases of Model Code of Conduct violations were reported through the cVIGIL app from Assam out of which 927 were disposed as of 4.30 pm, it said.
While polling in the first phase of the Assam Assembly election 2021 was held on March 27, the final phase of the polling will be held on April 6, 2021.
The counting of votes for the Assam Assembly election will be held on May 2, 2021.