Voting in the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls, Karnataka recorded an overall voter turnout of 69%, one per cent more than the 2019 general elections. Experts attribute the relatively low turnout to the summer heat with the temperatures soaring to 37 degrees Celsius and the election day falling on a weekend. Bangalore South and Central recorded a voter turnout of 54% and 53% respectively, against a turnout of 53% and 54% in the 2019 elections. Bangalore North and Bangalore Rural witnessed 54% and 67% polling, three per cent more than their 2019 turnout. At 81%, Mandya recorded the highest voter turnout – a one per cent increase from the 2019 polling, while Banjarumale, an interior hamlet in Belthangady taluk of Dakshina Kannada district recorded a 100 per cent turnout as all 111 voters showed up at the only booth in the village. As per the Karnataka chief electoral officer, polling took place in 30,602 polling stations. Polling was peaceful overall, barring an incident in Hanur assembly segment of Chamarajanagar (reserved) parliamentary constituency, where a mob dissuaded villagers from voting, resulting in clashes between police personnel and the mob. The mob also destroyed the EVM machines and the polling stations, forcing officials to stop polling. “The taluka officials reached the polling station around 1:30 and tried to persuade voters to cast their vote. The District Tribal Welfare Officer, Circle Inspector, and four policemen also reached Mandhare, a tribal settlement where voters were willing to vote, but were being intimidated by some residents of Indiganatta Village. Around 20 voters from Mandhare were brought to cast their votes. However, a mob had started to assemble. Nine voters cast their votes around 01:50 pm, and, polling personnel cast five EDC votes. The mob aggravated, breached the 100-meter perimeter, and pelted stones at the officials and polling station. The rioters entered the polling booth, and destroyed and burnt the election materials and EVM machine, after which polling stopped. An FIR has been registered. The matter has been reported to the Election Commission of India,” a statement from the chief election officer read. In another incident reported in Bengaluru Central’s Shanti Nagar constituency, an incident was reported where the "BALLOT" button on the control unit was allegedly not activated when a voter tried casting his vote. An Assistant Returning Officer was sent to take note of the issue. However, the total entries in the register tallied "perfectly" with the control unit.
