Less voter turnout in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry compared to 2011

The turn out of voters in assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry today is less than the 2011 polls, the Election Commission said. However, the percentage is likely to go up as the figures were not final. In Tamil Nadu, where the elections went off peacefully, 69.19 per cent of the 5.82 crore voters turned out to cast vote. The final percentage is yet to come up as the figures were received by the poll panel here at 5 pm, Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha told reporters here.

He said that in 2011 assembly polls, the figures were 78.12 per cent and 73.85 per cent in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

He said that despite rains lashing 8 districts of the state, voters turned out in large numbers. The rain situation had later in the day improved, he said.

In Kerala, the figures available till 6 pm said that 71 per cent of the total electors had cast votes. The figure was 75.12 per cent in 2011 and 74.02 per cent in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

EC Director General Sudeep Jain said that ahead of polling, Rs 24 crore in cash was seized by authorities, which is a record in the state.

In Puducherry, the voter turnout recorded at 6 pm was 71 per cent, which was 75.12 per cent in the 2011 assembly polls.  In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the turnout was recorded at 74.02 per cent.