Coimbatore recorded a voter turnout of 68.32 %, which was marginally higher than the previous assembly elections, on Tuesday. However, the turnout was lower than many other districts in the state.
According to election officials, 21 lakh of the total 30 lakh voters spread across the 10 assembly constituencies in the district exercised their right to franchise on the day. Unlike the 2016 election, female voters outnumbered their male counterparts this time.
Pollachi assembly segment recorded the highest voter turnout of 77.28 %, followed by Sulur and Mettupalayam. Coimbatore North had the lowest voter turnout of 59.08%. In the 2016 elections too, it was Pollachi that recorded the highest turnout, while Singanallur was placed at the bottom of the list. This time, Singanallur moved up the ladder but only with a marginal increase in the voter turnout.
Polling data showed that there was a clear rural-urban divide, when it came to polling. Rural segments of Pollachi, Sulur, Mettupalayam, Valparai and Thondamuthur recorded above 70% polling, while urban segments of Singanallur (61.68%), Combatore South (60.08%), Coimbatore North (59.08%) recorded lower voter turnout. Kavundampalayam, a constituency with rural and urban areas, also recorded lower voter turnout, compared to fully rural segments.
“There could be minor revisions in the data after the final compilation of voting data,” said an election officer.
Unlike the past, when electronic voting machines (EVMs) used to develop technical glitches in the beginning of the poll, there were no such complaints this time. Public said the poll officials had made proper arrangements, taking the Covid-19 situation in account. “We were made to sanitize hands and disposable glove was given to us to use the EVM. We were able to vote without any hassles,” said a J Saravanakumari, at a polling station at Singanallur.
Polling started in a brisk pace right from 7am and progressed in a smooth manner through the day, with social distancing in place. By 1pm, the district recorded a voter turnout of 39.5%, which rose to 51.7% by 3pm. After a lull in the afternoon, people started visiting the booths again in the evening. By 5pm, 61% voters in the district exercised their franchise. “After 6pm, most of the booths were empty,” said a district election officer.
By 7pm, the officials ended the exercise and started packing the EVMs. The voting machines were sealed, packed and taken to the strong room at the Government College of Technology. “The EVMs from rural areas came a bit late. Those from Valparai would take three to four hours to reach the strong room,” the official said.