Lok Sabha elections 2019: Violence, EVM glitches mar Phase 3 in eastern, NE states

In Assam-12.36%, Bihar-12.60%,Goa-2.29%,Guj-1.35%, J&K-0.00%, K'taka-1.75%, Kerala-2.48%, M'rashtra-0.99%, Odisha-1.32%, Tripura-1.56%, UP-6.84%, WB-10.97%, Chhattisgarh-2.24%, Dadra&Nagar Haveli-0.00%, Daman& Diu-5.83%,

A total of 26,526 ballot unit with 24,950 VVPAT along with 23,352 control units have been provided. ECI have also marked 4,515 critical polling booth. In order to monitor the polling centres and booth for peaceful election, ECI has installed 1,989 digital cameras, 1,255 video cameras and 2,162 live web cameras. There will be 1,744 micro observers too. For third phase election in the ten constituencies, a total of 88,681 men and women will be deployed, which includes 1,610 sector magistrates, 186 zonal magistrates, 358 static magistrates. Heavy police force along with paramilitary and police forces of other states will also be present to conduct peaceful voting. A total of 7,919 vehicles will be used in third phase by men and women in election duty. On Tuesday, it will be public holiday for polling .

"Heat would be unbearable after a while. So people are likely to vote early," said Hameed a voter who turned up at a polling booth in Thottakkattukara in Chalakkudy Lok Sabha constituency. The sky was overcast with clouds in Ernakulam and Chalakkudy Lok Sabha constituencies. Met reports had said that there is likelihood of rain across the state. "There is a heavy turnout of voters in the morning itself. The polling would be high if the weather stays this way," said Abdul Kareem, a CPM party worker at a polling station in St Mary's Convent, Karumaloor in Ernakulam constituency. The state government had advised citizens not to venture out in the sun between 11am and 3pm because of prevailing heat conditions and reports of sunstroke and sunburns. Officials expect polling to be low in the noontime as people would prefer to stay indoors.

Goa police have identified 47 polling stations as vulnerable and critical for the Lok Sabha election and three byelections to be held today. Of these 47 polling booths, 21 polling stations have been declared as vulnerable, while 26 are critical. A senior police officer said that vulnerable polling booths are identified due to previous records of law and order issues and high number of migrant voters. Critical polling stations are identified due to high percentage of voting. “As per Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines, if a candidate crosses a certain percentage of votes, then the polling station is considered as a critical polling station,” the officer said. Goa police had asked its North Goa and South Goa district superintendents of police (DySP) to finalise the list of sensitive polling stations for the byelections and Lok Sabha elections in consultation with district collectors. Goa has 1,652 polling stations. A police circular issued stated that ECI has triggered the model code of conduct and district SPs have to ensure that no code violation takes place in their respective jurisdictions.