<p>Patna: Bihar on Saturday became the first state to implement mobile phone-based e-voting during local body elections, a top Election Commission official said.</p>.<p>State Election Commissioner Deepak Prasad said while 70.20 per cent of the eligible voters used the e-voting system, 54.63 per cent exercised their franchise by visiting polling booths.</p>.<p>"Bihar has made history today. Bibha Kumari, a resident of Pakridayal in East Champaran district, became the first person in the country to cast a vote via mobile phone during a local body election," the State Election Commission posted on X.</p>.<p>"A symbol of convenience, security, and empowered participation," it added.</p>.<p>Polling for six nagar panchayats and municipal bypolls recorded an overall voter turnout of 62.41 per cent, Prasad said, adding that the elections were conducted peacefully across all locations.</p>.<p>Polling, which was conducted from 7 am to 5 pm, covered 489 booths, with 538 candidates in the fray.</p>.<p>Prasad said the introduction of e-voting aims to increase voter turnout and make the process more inclusive.</p>.<p>The system was specifically designed for voters who face challenges in reaching polling booths, such as the elderly, disabled, pregnant women, and migrants.</p>.<p>Only pre-registered users were allowed to vote via the e-voting platform, he added.</p>.<p>The districts where the nagar panchayat and municipal bypolls were held included Patna, Buxar, Bhojpur, Kaimur, Nalanda, Katihar, Araraia, Saharsa, East Champaran, etc.</p>.<p>Counting of votes will be held on June 30. </p>
<p>Patna: Bihar on Saturday became the first state to implement mobile phone-based e-voting during local body elections, a top Election Commission official said.</p>.<p>State Election Commissioner Deepak Prasad said while 70.20 per cent of the eligible voters used the e-voting system, 54.63 per cent exercised their franchise by visiting polling booths.</p>.<p>"Bihar has made history today. Bibha Kumari, a resident of Pakridayal in East Champaran district, became the first person in the country to cast a vote via mobile phone during a local body election," the State Election Commission posted on X.</p>.<p>"A symbol of convenience, security, and empowered participation," it added.</p>.<p>Polling for six nagar panchayats and municipal bypolls recorded an overall voter turnout of 62.41 per cent, Prasad said, adding that the elections were conducted peacefully across all locations.</p>.<p>Polling, which was conducted from 7 am to 5 pm, covered 489 booths, with 538 candidates in the fray.</p>.<p>Prasad said the introduction of e-voting aims to increase voter turnout and make the process more inclusive.</p>.<p>The system was specifically designed for voters who face challenges in reaching polling booths, such as the elderly, disabled, pregnant women, and migrants.</p>.<p>Only pre-registered users were allowed to vote via the e-voting platform, he added.</p>.<p>The districts where the nagar panchayat and municipal bypolls were held included Patna, Buxar, Bhojpur, Kaimur, Nalanda, Katihar, Araraia, Saharsa, East Champaran, etc.</p>.<p>Counting of votes will be held on June 30. </p>