Meghalaya: 91.87% voter turnout in Sohiong bypoll with higher women participation

Frederick Roy Kharkongor, state chief electoral officer (CEO) informed that the polling process was peaceful, with voters turning up in large numbers, and participation of women was significantly higher

Voting for the Sohiong constituency bypoll in Meghalaya saw a 91.87% turnout of the total 34,783 voters in all 63 polling stations on Wednesday, a figure much higher than the previous years, officials said.

Women voters show their ink-marked fingers after casting their votes for the Sohiong Assembly by-poll. (ANI photo)

Frederick Roy Kharkongor, state chief electoral officer (CEO) informed that the polling process was peaceful, with voters turning up in large numbers, and participation of women was significantly higher.

“Most of the polling took place during the early morning hours, and in the first part of the day. According to the figures we have received, three polling stations recorded a polling percentage of over 96%,” he said.

Kharkongor informed, the lowest percentage was reported from Rinli with about 73.22%.

Kharkongor added that there were no reports of machine malfunction anywhere.

He also said that the excise department seized 1,104 litres of liquor at 2pm.

Apart from that, the CEO said that 60% of the polling stations were monitored through webcasting in the constituency and a model polling station was also set up at Nongpathaw which had a ‘cast your vote and plant a tree’ polling station.

On the law-and-order front, eight non-bailable warrants of arrest were executed, and 62 persons identified as potential persons of interest for trouble were thwarted from any misadventure.