Aizawl: The Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) elections recorded a voter turnout of 62.77 per cent on Tuesday, with a total of 1,46,719 votes cast across 19 wards.
Polling began at 7 am and concluded at 5 pm under clear conditions, with officials confirming that the process was completed smoothly without any major untoward incidents.
According to the Mizoram State Election Commission, a total of 2,39,985 voters, including 1,29,650 women and 1,10,335 men, were eligible to cast their votes. Of these, 66,415 men and 80,304 women exercised their franchise.
Polling was conducted across 264 polling stations under 89 Local Councils in the AMC area. Voting was carried out using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), though Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) systems were not used.
The election saw 68 candidates in the fray, comprising 41 men and 27 women, representing four major political parties. The ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), the main Opposition Mizo National Front (MNF), and the Congress fielded candidates in all 19 wards, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) contested in 11.
Out of the 19 wards, six — Wards II, IV, V, XI, XII and XVII — were reserved for women, although women candidates also contested in other wards.
To ensure a free, fair, and transparent election, polling personnel and EVM deployment were carried out through three rounds of computerised randomisation. After polling, all EVMs were sealed and transported to the strong room at the DC Office in the presence of general observers and representatives of political parties.
In a push for inclusive participation, home voting was conducted between April 13 and 16 for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and individuals with serious illnesses. A total of 2,768 voters, accounting for 93.71 per cent of those registered, cast their votes through this facility.
Despite the smooth conduct, the turnout marks the lowest participation in the last three AMC elections, according to Mizoram Click, a local media page. Voter turnout stood at 63.60 per cent in 2010, 63.55 per cent in 2015, and 64.19 per cent in 2021.
The ward with the highest number of voters was Ward XVIII with 18,906 electors, while Ward VIII had the lowest at 7,975.
The previous AMC elections, held in February 2021, saw the Mizo National Front secure a majority with 11 seats, while the Zoram People’s Movement won six and the Congress secured two.
Counting of votes is scheduled for April 27 from 8 am. In case of any re-poll, it will be conducted on April 23 between 7 am and 5 pm.