In the four phases of polling held so far, Andhra Pradesh has registered the highest turnout in the country at around 82 percent. In AP, Darsi assembly registered the highest polling of 90.99 percent in Prakasam district, followed by highest polling among LoK Sabha seats in Ongole with 87.07 percent.
Tirupati registered lowest polling among Assemblies with 62.32 percent, as against 65.9 percent in 2019, 65.9. Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha registered lowest turnout among Lok Sabha seats with 71.11 percent, as against 67 percent polled in 2019.
The number of postal ballots polled were almost doubled then last time. While as many as 56,000 postal ballots were rejected in 2019, this time due to care taken such rejection was avoided.
Chief Electoral Officer Mukesh Kumar Meena said that out of a total of 4,13,33,702 voters in AP, 3,33,40,560 of them voted for 25 parliamentary constituencies and 3,33,40,333 voters were cast in 175 assembly constituencies. 227 voters, who voted for Lok Sabha did not voted for Assembly.
A total of 80.66 percent polling took place in the EVM polling. Moreover, 4.44 lakh postal ballots were received. If votes of elderly, disabled and those who voted at home also included, a total of 4.97 lakh people voted. He said that 81.81 percent (almost 82 percent) polling took place in AP.
Though the polling was to be concluded at 6 pm, a large number of voters were seen at many polling booths and in some booths it continued till 2 am next day. He said that there was a delay in handing over the EVMs. It was explained that due to weather problems, delay in polling in some places, rains in Konaseema and Srikakulam, polling was held till the early hours of the next day.
He said that polling continued immediately even where the EVMs were broken. Stating that observers have not recommended re-polling anywhere in the state, he said that EVMs of 175 Assembly and 25 Parliament centers have been secured in strong rooms.
He said that 350 strong rooms have been set up in 33 locations across the state and separate centers have been set up for Lok Sabha and Assembly. He said that in 2019, 79.77 percent polling was done in AP, which is 1 percent more than the previous year.
