Bhubaneswar: As Odisha recorded a voter turnout of 23.28 per cent by 11 am on Monday, the enthusiasm of both first-time and elderly voters was evident from a 104-year-old elderly man in Gunupur Assembly constituency and a 98-year-old woman in Berhampur reaching their respective polling booth to exercise their franchise.
The elderly were seen in the polling booths even as the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the first time this election has provided the facility to vote from home for the elderly and people with disabilities. Goura Chandra Padhi (104) was among the early voters in Gunupur while the 98-year-0ld was brought to the polling booth in Berhampur in a wheelchair.
“The BLO did not turn-up and she was so interested in voting that we had to bring her here,” said the elderly’s caretaker.
Voting for four Odisha’s Lok Sabha — Berhampur, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Kalahandi—and 28 Assembly segments started at 7 am on Monday.
Among the Lok Sabha seats, Berhampur saw the lowest 18.99 per cent voting by 11 am. Likewise, in the Assembly segment, the highest voter turnout was in Jaipur 32.25 per cent followed by Nuapada 27.88 per cent, Chief Electoral Officer Nikunja Dhal informed.
