Mangaluru (The Hindu): In Gerukatte of Belthangady taluk, three polling stations wore a deserted look at noon.

But just six kilometres away from there at Guruvayanakere, a 92-year-old woman came under the hot sun to vote in the elections to the zilla and taluk panchayats on Saturday.

Sanjeevi Acharya was brought to the polling booth by her son and other family members in their car.

“My mother never missed voting in any election including the gram panchayat ones,” said her son.

In Gerukatte, till noon the three polling booths had recorded only 37 per cent, 38 per cent and 42 per cent polling, respectively.

A police official on duty at Mani said that two electronic voting machines (EVMs) at Mani and Peraje booths developed a technical snag in the morning for about 15 minutes.

However, the voting continued after they were rectified.

Reports reaching here said that an EVM at Valakadame in Koila village Puttur taluk also developed snag. Hence there was two-hour delay in the start of voting.

Reports said that EVMs also developed snag at Kateel in Mangaluru taluk and Bellare in Sullia taluk.

However, either they were rectified or they were changed, officials said.

A booth in Kalladkka recorded 40 per cent polling by 11 a.m.

In a polling booth at Gurupura, on the outskirts of the city a 60-year-old Suleman was brought to the polling station in a wheelchair as he could not walk due to a health problem.

A majority of polling booths in Karaya and Tannirpantha near Uppinangady, Gardadi and Kukkedi in Belthangady taluk, Mijar in Mangaluru taluk reported a low turn-out of voters.

A polling booth near Polali Dwara recorded 75 per cent polling by 4 p.m. and three polling booths in Gurupura reported between 60 per cent and 65 per cent polling.

Photo credit: The Hindu