Election officials hope that the polling percentage in the city will increase when the elections for three Assembly seats and one Lok Sabha seat are held here tomorrow.

While the state had witnessed 65.30 per cent voting in 2009 general and Assembly elections, the three Assembly segments in Bhubaneswar saw poor turnout. It was the lowest in the state with an average of 35 per cent.

However, the first phase polling held on April 10 for 10 Lok Sabha and 70 Assembly seats mostly in the Maoist-hit western and southern districts, saw 75 per cent voting. This has created hope among the election officials that people in Bhubaneswar will also cast their votes in large numbers.

“We have been taking several steps to aware electorates to cast their votes. We launched media campaigns, put up hoardings and selected youth icons to persuade voters to take part in voting and hold many other activities, which have yielded us good results. We are hopeful about Bhubaneswar voting as well,” said election nodal officer Naba Nayak.

In 2009 Bhubaneswar (central) had witnessed 33 per cent voting, while Bhubaneswar (Ekamra) saw 37 per cent voting. Bhubaneswar (north), which is the biggest Assembly constituency in the state according to the number of electors, saw only 35 per cent polling. Even the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha seat saw 49.13 per cent of voting due to the poor turnout in these Assembly segments.

The election officials could not say the reasons behind the low voter participation in the city that has more educated and literate people than any other place in the state. While sources said people, especially the VIPs, did not cast their votes, they also said many people had dual voter registration and they preferred to vote in their native places. It is often seen that slum dwellers have been casting votes in a large number, while the well-to-do citizens refrain from voting.

It had been reflected during the January 8 civic polls, in which the city saw only 43.29 per cent voting with the outskirts and slum dominated areas registering a better turnout. The so-called VIP area at Nayapalli has always been witnessing less than 35 per cent of voting.

Poll officials this time hope that the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation will help in providing impetus to franchise. In 2009, the Election Commission started the wing, which makes various plans to bring voters to the election process.

Even many youths are seen spreading messages through social media to take part in the process. “We must vote for our better future and the country,” said Biplab Prakash Mohanty, a student leader.

“We can’t force any one to vote. But, we have taken many steps to promote voting among the residents. We are sure this time it will go up,” said a poll official.