Voting in the 40 assembly constituencies of Mizoram closed at 4 pm on Wednesday. Around 73 percent of total turnout recorded in the Mizoram assembly polls today. But the figure is expected to rise as there were long queues of voters outside polling booths to exercise their franchise, Chief Electoral Officer Ashish Kundra said, according to PTI.
CEO Ashish Kundra told reporters that the highest turnout of 81 percent was reported at Serchhip seat, where Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla is one of the contestants. At Kanhmun village in Mamit district bordering Tripura where Bru refugees lodged in Tripura camps cast their votes, 52 percent of the 1.18 lakh electorate exercised their franchise, he said.
In order to encourage women voters in the state, Authorities have set up ‘Pink Polling Booths’ in all 40 seats of the state. Moreover, all the polling Booths this time was connected by wireless communication. That will help the authorities in timely reporting of every development and progress of the polling. With this, the state in this polls does not have any ‘Shadow area’- the area where there is no communication.
The Election Commission also ensured that the disabled and the elderly get to exercise their franchise without any hurdles by arranging special provisions for them. A number of elderly voters turned out to vote, including a few centenarians.
In the meanwhile, Forty-two VVPATs, 25 ballot units, and 19 control units were being replaced in various polling stations, Chief Electoral Officer Ashish Kundra said.
The 40 assembly state is currently ruled by Indian National Congress with 34 out of total seats while Mizo National Front has 5 seats. BJP who has never won a seat in the assembly field candidates on 39 seats. Bhartiya Janta Party‘s vote share in the state was less than one percent in the last assembly elections of 2013.
While Madhya Pradesh recorded around 74.6 percent polling till 6 pm.
The results will be announced on December 11 along with other state assembly elections.