Karwar:  Regarding the Lok Sabha General Election-2024, approximately 75% of eligible voters participated in the election for the Uttara Kannada Lok Sabha constituency on Tuesday. The election was conducted smoothly and peacefully without any untoward incidents in the district, as stated by District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Gangubai Manakar.

Voters queued up at polling booths since 7 am to avoid the scorching heat in the district and peacefully exercised their right to vote.

A significant number of women lined up at the women's polling booth at St. Michael's School, Karwar. By 9 am, the voter turnout in the district was 11.48 percent. District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Gangubai Manakar cast her vote in Polling Station No. 109 at Aligadda Anganwadi. She was accompanied by her daughter Trishika and son to celebrate their first time voting experience. Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Ishwara Kumar and his wife stood in a queue and cast their votes at St. Michael's School in Kandu, Karwar. Additional District Collector Prakash Rajput cast his vote at youth polling booth number 103 at Hindu High School.

By 11 am, the voter turnout had reached 28.19 percent in the district. Voters from Karve Island in Ankola taluk arrived in their own boat through the Gangavali River, walked to the polling station at Hitchkada Rkari School, approximately 1.5 km away, and cast their votes, demonstrating their responsibility. Members of the Siddi community attracted attention by casting their votes in their traditional attire at ethnic polling booth 135 in Garadolli village, Kesarolli gram panchayat, Haliya taluk. In a traditional polling station under Hunagunda Gram Panchayat in Mundagodu taluk, Lambali women arrived in their traditional attire to exercise their right to vote, followed by dancing and celebrating.

At 1 pm, the voter turnout in the district reached 45.08 percent. Later in the afternoon, the number of voters arriving at the polling booths dwindled due to the scorching sun. However, at polling station number 230 in Bellambara, women voters cast their votes in queues despite the heat. By 3 pm, the voter turnout had reached 57.05 percent.

As the evening approached, the polling process intensified, and by 5 o'clock, the voter turnout had reached 70.61 percent.

For this election, 66 special polling booths were set up with special facilities provided to the staff working in women's, special spirited, and youth polling booths. Voters at special polling booths were seen happily taking selfies.

The scenes remained normal throughout. As a precautionary measure for polling booth staff, Asha workers were appointed on an honorarium basis for many polling booths, including the provision of a medicine kit. In some places, problems were encountered with the voting machines, but they were promptly checked and rectified.

Priority entry, security, and vehicle arrangements were made for voters with special needs at the polling booths. Suitable shade systems, drinking water facilities, and various toys for children were installed in polling booths for the general public. Young voters and differently-abled voters turned up in large numbers to exercise their right to vote.