Vijayawada records fifty four percent turnout in municipal elections

Vijayawada recorded a voter turnout of 54.74% in the Second Ordinary Elections to Urban Local Bodies held on Sunday.

Polling Details

Polling was delayed by two hours at nine polling stations in the 55th division due to a printing error in party symbols. Voting in this division began at 9 a.m. and continued till 9 p.m., while polling in the other 85 divisions ended at 5 p.m. The city has 8,05,797 voters across 86 wards. A total of 4,41,069 people cast their votes, including 2,17,587 men, 2,23,407 women, and 75 other voters. This turnout is lower than the 62.87% recorded during the previous local body elections in March 2021, when 4,91,648 out of 7,81,883 voters cast their ballots.

Circle Breakup And Region

Circle I recorded a voting percentage of 52.86%. Circle II recorded 57.27%, and Circle III recorded 53.91% as of 8 p.m. In the 55th ward, the turnout stood at 33.21% by 8 p.m. Across the NTR district, municipal elections also took place in Kondapalli, Jaggayyapeta, Nandigama, and Tiruvuru, where voter turnouts ranged between 72% and 74%. In the neighboring Krishna district, the Machilipatnam Municipal Corporation recorded a turnout of 70.83%.

Context

Local body elections decide the local councillors and municipal leaders who manage basic civic services like water supply, sanitation, and road maintenance in towns and cities. Turnout in local elections often varies compared to national or state assembly elections due to different levels of local voter engagement.