Nuapada, Nov 11: The ongoing bye-election in Nuapada assembly constituency is witnessing an encouraging voter response, with a turnout of approximately 65.20% recorded by 3:00 PM today.

Voting across all booths, including sensitive and Sakhi booths, has been proceeding smoothly and peacefully, according to election officials.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) RS Gopalan said the polling process is being closely monitored through CCTV surveillance, ensuring that any technical or administrative issues are addressed promptly.

Both the district and state headquarters are actively overseeing the process to maintain the standards of a free, fair, and transparent election.

Minor technical glitches were reported early in the day, but swift corrective actions ensured that voting continued without disruption. One VVPAT unit was replaced at booth number 298, while one Ballot Unit (BU), one Control Unit (CU), and one VVPAT were replaced at booth number 80.

Officials confirmed that these replacements were made promptly to avoid any delay in polling.

In a separate development, the Presiding Officer of booth number 46 was suspended for violation of secrecy, reaffirming the Election Commission’s strict adherence to electoral protocols and commitment to maintaining the integrity of the voting process.