The first phase of the Andhra Pradesh Grama Panchayat elections recorded 18 % voters turnout till 9:00 A.M.
The polling for the first phase of the Panchayat election started at 6:30 A.M., and would continue till 3:30 A.M.
The State Election Commission (SEC) set up webcasting in about 7,000 centres and Girija Shankar is constantly monitored through webcasting.
The first phase of the panchayat polls are being held in 12 districts except Vizinagaram.
In the first phase, the SEC issued notifications for the conduct of elections in 3,249 gram panchayats and the election was unanimous in 525 places.
With no nominations filed for the Sarpanch post in Velicherla village in Nellore district, polling will be held for the remaining 2,723 Sarpanches and 20,160 wards.
In addition, the State Commission organised a command control room in Vijayawada to monitor polling.
This year, the elections are being held using ballot paper and without any political party symbols.
The Sarpanch candidate was allotted a pink ballot and the ward candidate was allotted a white ballot.
The major parties contesting the Panchayat elections are the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP.)
This time, the SEC also introduced the NOTA (none of the above) option in the election.
Officials would declare the candidates as winners after considering the highest votes without considering the NOTA.
The counting of votes would begin at 4:00 P.M.
The election results are scheduled to be announced later in the evening.
Stay tuned for further updates.
