Karnataka polls 2018 live: Election ends with 70% total turnout across state

Polling for Karnataka assembly election ends with over 64% voter turnout reported till 5 pm.
 

Karnataka recorded a voter turnout of 61.25% till 5 pm.

The Election Commission announced that the overall voter turnout across the state stood at 36.5 percent at 1 pm after six hours of polling. 

As there is a model code of conduct in Karnataka, PM Modi planned to pray at temples in Nepal instead, just to influence voters. This is not a good trend for democracy. Why did he only choose today as the day?

Ashok Gehlot, Congress

24% polling recorded till 11:00 AM in Karnataka.

Around 11% polling registered in first two hours across Karnataka

About 11 percent polling was today recorded in the first two hours of voting in Karnataka. which is witnessing a three-cornered contest among the ruling Congress, the BJP and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda’s JD(S).

People were seen standing in queues to cast their votes in the early hours itself, factoring in that the temperature may go up later in the day. Also, it has been raining in different parts of south interior Karnataka for the last couple of days during the evening hours. Senior citizens were seen in good numbers standing in queues at various polling stations to cast their votes early.

Expect possibility of forming government: HD Deve Gowda

JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda cast his vote at polling booth number 24 in Holenarasipura town in Hassan district on Saturday morning. "We expect a possibility of forming the government, we have done well," he said. 

Polling percentage stands at 10.6% as of 9.15 am: EC

The Election Commission said the voter turnout across Karnataka stood at 10.6 percent on Saturday morning till 9.15 am. Voting for the Karnataka Assembly election began at 7 am. 

Faulty VVPAT machine stalls voting in Hubli

A faulty Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine at booth number 108 has stalled voting here.

The machine is being replaced, and voting is yet to resume at the booth.

Voting for 222 seats out of 224-member assembly began across Karnataka at 7 am today.

The polling, which began at 58,546 polling stations, each equipped with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and VVPATs, will conclude at 6 pm.

A total of 2,654 candidates are in the fray and 4.96-crore electorate, including 2.44 crore women, will cast their votes, in the Karnataka polls.

Over 15 lakh people are first-time voters in the 18-19 age group. 

Gender demographics of the voters eligible to vote today

Over 4.96 crore voters, including 2.52 crore men, 2.44 crore women and over 4,500 people who identify themselves as 'transgenders', have registered to vote.

A total of 15.42 lakh voters, aged 18-19, have registered to cast their ballot for the first time.

Voters to use NOTA for first time in Karnataka Assembly polls

Voters will get to use the NOTA (None of the Above Option) for the first time in the Karnataka election.

Urban polling booths see heavy voter turnout. Rural not so much

Long queues were seen at several polling stations across the state even before polling began. People, especially morning walkers, queued up in polling stations in Bengaluru, Mysuru and other urban centres. In Bengaluru, cloudy morning seemed to have enthused voters while morning rain seemed to be playing spoilsport in other parts of the state, including Kodagu.

In Rajarajeshwari Nagar constituency in Bengaluru, where elections were postponed at the last minute on Friday evening, some voters who had no clue about the deferring, are visiting polling booths and returning disappointed.

Elections to R.R. Nagar has been postponed after over 9,000 voter ID cards were seized in the constituency. Voters from Jayanagar, too, won't be exercising their franchise on May 12 as the elections were deferred after the demise of BJP candidate and sitting MLA Vijay Kumar.

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The ruling Congress and the BJP are the main contenders for power, while former prime minister HD Deve Gowda's JD(S) is likely to play the kingmaker, according to most surveys and opinion polls.

Karnataka is voting today for electing its 15th Legislative Assembly after a fortnight-long bitter campaign by the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S). The vote count will take place on May  15. 

All eyes are on the southern state where Congress is trying hard to retain power, while the BJP is making all efforts to unseat the ruling party and grab power after losing at its hands five years ago. The polling across Karnataka in 223 of the 225-member Assembly will be held in a single phase.