The Hindu 26.10.2010
75 per cent voting in Ernakulam
Staff Reporter
| Significant increase from 58 per cent recorded in 2005 |
Enthusiastic voters:Nuns waiting in queue to cast their votes outside
KOCHI: Elections to the local self-government bodies witnessed heavy to very heavy voter turnout in the district on Monday with overall voter turnout touching 74.87 per cent.
This was a significant increase from the voter’s turnout of 58 per cent recorded in the district during the elections in 2005.
At the last count, voting per cent in 11 municipalities stood at 78.05 per cent and that of the Corporation at 67.7 per cent.
In 14 block panchayats, the voting per cent was 78.87 per cent.
An hour before the close of polling at 5 p.m. the polling per cent in municipalities, Corporation, and block panchayats was 75 per cent, 59.6 per cent, and 72.42 per cent.
All through voting, the voter turnout in municipalities surpassed the Corporation and block panchayats.
Between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. polling in municipalities surged from 58 per cent to 71 per cent.
During the same period, polling in Corporation and block panchayats increased from 40 per cent and 55 per cent to 51 per cent and 68 per cent respectively.
The final figures in 11 municipalities at the end of voting are as follows: Thripunithura (76 per cent), Muvattupuzha (82.56 per cent), Kothamangalam (81.08 per cent), Perumbavur (80.35 per cent), Aluva (70.74 per cent), Kalamassery (80.21 per cent), North Paravur (81.63 per cent), Angamaly (79.67 per cent), Eloor (79.43 per cent), Thrikkakara (70.36 per cent), and Maradu (76.57 per cent). In Kochi Corporation, the final voting per cent was (67.7 per cent).
The figures in block panchayats are: North Paravur (80 per cent), Alangad (78 per cent), Angamaly (78 per cent), Koovappady (80.74 per cent), Vazhakkulam (74 per cent), Edappally (78 per cent), Vypeen (75 per cent), Palluruthy (72.81 per cent), Mulanthuruthy (79.44 per cent), Vadavucode (81 per cent), Kothamangalam (87 per cent), Pampakuda (78.6 per cent), Parakkadavu (80 per cent), and Muvattupuzha (81.6 per cent).
It is estimated that nearly 73.41 per cent of the votes in district panchayat were polled on Monday.
Electronic voting machines and ballot boxes sealed by returning officers concerned were moved into strong rooms in 26 counting centres – 14 in panchayats, 11 in municipalities and one in Corporation.
They will be kept there with police protection and taken out only ahead of the counting scheduled to start at 8 a.m. on Wednesday.
