85 lakh marked absentee voters

But while analysing the low voter turnout in all the four phases, he said that the Commission had taken additional measures to ensure that only 8220;eligible voters8221; are allowed to vote.

Fending off criticism that excess security proved to be a deterrent, Balakrishnan said the low polling could also be due to the fact that a large number of registered voters from across the state stayed elsewhere to earn their livelihood.

Of the 1.55 crore voters in the fourth phase, 8220;as many as 12 lakh voters were found to be 8220;temporarily absent8221;. Balakrishnan claimed that the EC weeded out 8220;stuffing of male voters8221; in place of women who were either not allowed to register or not allowed to vote.