Our Correspondent
Imphal, March 2 (EMN): Manipur recorded a voter turnout of 88.63% in the first phase of elections to 38 of the 60 assembly, election officials informed.
In 2017 assembly polls, the turnout was 86 %. “Voter turnout of male is 87.29% and that of females is 89.96%”, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manipur Rajesh Agrawal informed in a press note on Tuesday.
“Not only did females outnumber the male electors in the gender ratio but female electors have displayed more enthusiasm in the voter turnout as well”, it further added.
Stating that nothing untoward has been observed for the majority of the assembly constituencies, it said, “Minor incidents reported for few polling stations were examined and found that none of them actually had any detrimental impact on the poll process and the votes polled are safely stored and secure in the machines.”
However, stray incidents of damaged EVMs have been reported and re-poll has been recommended for those polling stations, the CEO press note said.
Altogether 79 and 381 polling Stations were earmarked as model and women polling stations respectively in the first phase.
Interestingly, over 90% of the transgender voters enrolled as electors have exercised their adult franchise. Participation of women has been overwhelmingly showcasing the true women empowerment, it said.