Lucknow, April 23 (Inditop) About 26 percent of 25 million-odd eligible voters cast their ballot in 17 constituencies of Uttar Pradesh till 2 p.m., election officials said here Thursday.
Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. However, a slow turnout was reported in the early hours from almost all the constituencies due to the scorching heat.
According to poll officials, 26 percent percent voter turnout was reported till 2 p.m. with Allahabad registering the highest polling at 29 percent.
The high profile parliamentary constituency of Amethi, the pocket borough of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, registered a poor voter turnout in the initial hours of polling.
Amethi recorded the lowest turnout till 9 a.m. at 5.5 percent, an election official said. However, it improved to 24 percent by late afternoon.
Considering the rise in temperature during the day, the officials were expecting a higher turnout in the morning.
Officials said sporadic incidents of malfunctioning of electronic voting machines were reported from some constituencies, including Amethi, Pratapgarh and Domariyaganj.
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