Nagaland recorded a voter turnout of 85.90% with Mon registering highest percentage among the districts at 94.05% while Chumoukedima recorded lowest at 77.09%, after the polling in 59 of the 60 Assembly constituencies concluded on Monday.
This year’s voter turnout is higher than 85.62% recorded in 2018 election but less than 2013’s 91.62% voting percentage. However, the overall percentage of voter turnout for this election could change as the officials continue to update data.
Addressing a press conference after the polling, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nagaland, V Shashank Shekhar, said overall situation was “alright” except for some violent incidents which were brought under control.
‘The official polling time was from 7 am to 4 pm but some polling stations went beyond that. There were 171 polling boots with over 1000 voters,’ he informed.
Polling was held in 2291 stations, out of which 367 were managed by women and three by Persons with Disabilities. The polling stations were manned by more than 11,500 polling officials and staff.
The polling team have returned and submitted all the EVMs and other machineries. Scrutiny of papers will be done at 11 am on Tuesday, he said.
As for re-polling, he said the decision will be taken at the EC-level, if so required.
With regard to a circulation about a “drunken” presiding officer reportedly not performing duty, the CEO refused to comment on the matter in the absence of official confirmation from district machinery.
He added that any such incident will not be accepted and action will be taken.
At Nagaland Dobashi Association rest house and conference hall, Chotobosti Upper-I polling station in Kohima, which was managed by the Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) team and officials, over 85% voters turnout was recorded. Falling under the Southern Angami-I AC, it is the lone polling station in Kohima solely managed by PwDs officials.
Presiding Officer Longphyo informed that a total of five officials (male) manned the polling station and the overall situation was “quite peaceful”.
Sharing his observation with Eastern Mirror, Longphyo said that the PwDs solely managing a polling station is a “good sign” and it shows that the government ‘understands’ them. There has been no such initiative before except for manning the general polling stations in the previous elections, he said adding that he looks forward to more such participation.
He further said that the government can be more inclusive by introducing similar platforms for PWDs in other government events besides elections. Such inclusive platforms can do “more justice” to the PWDs and make them feel like they are a part of the government.
Vikeseno Visa, Presiding Officer at the women-managed polling station, the office of EE, PHED Urban Division, Kohima under 8 Western Angami AC, said the polling went “very peacefully” and voters were cooperative. Around 76% of voters with over 280 voters, excluding the postal ballot out of 369 total voters, turned up doe voting.
Polling concluded peacefully in Meghalaya on Monday, with approximately 81.57% of the total 21.6 lakh electorates having cast their votes to elect 59 legislators to the state Assembly.
Voting in Sohiong constituency was adjourned following the death of one of the candidates.
In this election, the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) is trying to retain power while other parties including the BJP and Trinamool Congress are attempting to make an inroad into the state.
Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor had said that polling was held in a free and fair manner with no untoward incidents, while a few EVMs had to be fixed due to malfunctioning.
Nagaland