Bhubaneswar: The counting of votes for 21 the Lok Sabha and 147 Assembly seats in Odisha began across the state amidst tight security. .
Counting is being held in 70 centres throughout the state.
The simultaneous elections were held in four phases between May 13 and June 1. Re-polling was also held at two booths under the Kantamala Assembly segment in Boudh district on May 23.
A three-tier security has been put in place at each of the strong rooms where the EVMs have been stored and at the counting venues across the state.
Over 2.5 crore voters exercised their franchise in the four-phase elections, with a turnout of 74.44 per cent, higher than the 73.09 per cent recorded in 2019, according to Odisha chief electoral officer Nikunja Bihari Dhal.
Of the total electors, 75.55 per cent women and 73.37 per cent men voted in this election.