Record 74 per cent turnout in Himachal Pradesh assembly polls, says Election Commission

New Delhi : Himachal Pradesh witnessed a record 74 per cent polling in the assembly elections till 5 p.m. on Thursday, the Election Commission said here.

"The percentage is expected to go up further as there were voters in about 500 booths at that hour. This is the highest poll percentage recorded by the hill state in assembly polls," Dilip Sharma, Director General, Election Commission of India, told reporters here. 

He said the polling percentage in the state was 64.45 per cent in 2012 and 73.5 per cent in 2007. 

Sharma said 297 VVPATs (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) machines were replaced due to technical problems - 218 before the start of polling and 79 during the poll.

The polling in the state was peaceful, he said.