TN polls: EVM glitches delay start of voting in several booths; leaders, celebrities among early voters

Chennai, April 23 : Voting for the high-stakes Tamil Nadu Assembly elections commenced on Thursday amid reports of technical glitches in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at several booths, leading to delays in the start of polling in multiple locations.

Election officials moved swiftly to address the malfunctions, particularly those related to EVMs and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units, to ensure that the voting process resumed smoothly.

Despite the early hiccups, voters began queuing up in large numbers across the state, reflecting strong enthusiasm for the democratic exercise.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon citizens to participate actively in the electoral process. In a post on X, he urged voters to “enthusiastically fulfil this sacred democratic duty” and appealed especially to women and first-time voters to turn out in large numbers and contribute to a record voter turnout.

AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami cast his vote along with his family at a polling booth in Siluvampalayam Panchayat Union Primary School in Salem.

Meanwhile, Municipal Administration Minister K.N. Nehru was seen waiting at a polling station in Tiruchy’s Thillai Nagar after a VVPAT malfunction temporarily halted voting.

Naam Tamilar Katchi chief coordinator Seeman exercised his franchise in Neelankarai along with his wife, while BJP state vice-president Khushbu Sundar and actor-filmmaker Sundar C. also cast their votes.

Among the early voters was popular actor Ajith Kumar, who was reportedly the first to vote in the state.

Due to security considerations, officials facilitated his early entry into the polling booth. Dressed in a white coat suit, Ajith later displayed the indelible ink mark on his finger, drawing cheers from fans gathered outside. Police personnel were deployed in large numbers to manage the crowd that had assembled to catch a glimpse of the actor.

Authorities have assured voters that all necessary measures are in place to ensure free and fair polling across Tamil Nadu, with efforts continuing to resolve technical issues and maintain steady voting through the day.