Counting of votes today in Gandhinagar

All arrangements for counting of votes of village panchayats elections, slated for Saturday, have been completed, government officials said, even as re-polling at certain places was peaceful.

Officials said counting of ballot papers would be undertaken on Saturday morning. Tight security arrangements have been made for the counting of votes, which is expected to be completed by afternoon.

Meanwhile, Prakash Shah, in-charge state election commissioner, said re-polling in nine wards and four polling booths, which took place on Friday, was peaceful. Re-polling had been ordered on account of violence, ballot paper tampering and printing errors in ballot papers.

According to the state election commission, the final voter turnout in the elections to 8,247 panchayats was 77.81%. The total number of registered voters was 1.43 crore, of whom 1.11 crore exercised their right to vote.

The highest voter turnout in the polls was recorded in Gandhinagar district where 83.96% votes were cast, while lowest turnout was in Porbandar with 71.83% voting. Voter turnout in Ahmedabad district was 76.48%.

More than 80% voter turnout was recorded in Dangs with 81.23%, Kheda (80.67%), Patan (80.83%), Surendranagar (80.19%), Banaskantha (82.25%) and Tapi (80.18%).