67.90 pc voting recorded in Haryana: CEO Pankaj Agarwal

Chandigarh [India], October 6 : Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal said 67.90 per cent voting took place for the Haryana assemby elections held on October 5.
The highest 75.36 per cent voting was recorded in Sirsa district and the lowest 56.49 per cent voting was recorded in Faridabad district.
Pankaj Agarwal said the elections in the state have been peaceful. Giving information, he said 67.62 per cent voting has taken place in Ambala district while 65.23 per cent voting was recorded in Panchkula district, 74.20 percent in Yamunanagar district, 69.59 percent in Kurukshetra district, 72.36 per cent in Kaithal district, 65.67 per cent in Karnal district, 68.80 per cent in Panipat district, 66.08 percent in Sonipat district, 72.19 per cent in Jind district and 74.77 percent in Fatehabad district.
Similarly, Hisar district recorded 70.58 per cent voting, Bhiwani district recorded 70.46 per cent, Charkhi Dadri district recorded 69.58 percent, Rohtak district recorded 66.73 percent, Jhajjar district recorded 65.69 percent, Mahendragarh district recorded 70.45 percent, Rewari district recorded 67.99 per cent, Gurugram district recorded 57.96 percent, Mewat district recorded 72.81 percent and Palwal recorded 73.89 percent voting.
Voting for 90 Assembly constituencies in Haryana was held in a single phase on October 5 from 7 am to 6 pm. Total 20,632 polling stations were set up. Out of 2,03,54,350 voters in the state, 1,38,19,776 voters cast their vote. Out of these, 74,28,124 men, 63,91,534 women and 118 third gender voters exercised their franchise.
Pankaj Agarwal said preparations were made at various levels to ensure smooth conduct of the polling. As per the instructions of the Election Commission of India, webcasting was arranged at polling stations for strict and continuous monitoring of the polling process. 97 central observers were also deployed by the Commission for field monitoring and continuous feedback.
He said due to continuous efforts for inducement-free elections, banned material worth Rs 75.97 crore was seized in the state since the announcement of elections. He said 225 companies of Central Armed Police Forces were deployed in the state to maintain law and order and to ensure peaceful polling in the elections. The Haryana Police also made strict security arrangements in the state. To conduct the Assembly elections in a free, fair and peaceful manner, 29,462 police personnel, 21,196 Home Guard jawans and 10,403 SPOs were deployed.
Pankaj Agarwal said as part of the Election Commission's commitment to make voting experience pleasant and memorable, basic amenities like drinking water, electricity, toilets, ramps, adequate shelter and helpdesk were provided at all polling stations. Wheelchair facility was provided to the needy people. To encourage young voters, 114 polling stations were managed by youth. To promote gender inclusiveness and accessibility, 115 polling stations were managed entirely by women while 87 were managed by Divyang employees.
The Chief Electoral Officer said Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) activities were organized to promote democratic celebration before the polling day. Local themes and elements were used in various activities like street plays, local influential persons and symbols, indigenous sports activities as well as plantation drives, painting and debate competitions to further increase the enthusiasm of youth towards voting on the day of polling.
Pankaj Agarwal expressed gratitude to all the officers and employees engaged in election duty for conducting the voting process peacefully and successfully and said with the cooperation of all, the elections in the state were peaceful. Along with this, he thanked all the voters who voted and participated in this great festival of democracy in large numbers.