Anand, April 23 : Polling for the Umreth Assembly by-election in Gujarat's Anand district continued through Thursday with 37.14 per cent voter turnout recorded by 1 p.m., according to data released by the Election Commission of India.

Voting began at 7 a.m. on Thursday across 306 polling stations in the Assembly constituency, which covers 46 villages of Umreth taluka and parts of Anand's rural area, along with the municipalities of Ode, Umreth and Boriavi.

A total of 2,45,623 voters are eligible to decide the outcome in the poll contest involving six candidates.

The Election Commission has scheduled polling to continue until 6 p.m., while counting of votes will be held on May 4.

Officials said voting has been proceeding in a structured manner under tight administrative supervision, with around 1,348 polling personnel deployed on duty, assisted by 22 micro observers and 19 nodal officers.

Nearly 1,500 officials in total are engaged in the polling process.

Webcasting has been enabled at all polling stations to ensure continuous monitoring.

Security arrangements remain in place with the deployment of two Deputy Superintendents of Police, four Police Inspectors, around 500 police and home guard personnel, and three companies of the Central Reserve Police Force.

To ensure accessibility, election authorities have arranged 218 wheelchairs for elderly and differently-abled voters, supported by 361 volunteers across polling stations.

Six dedicated vehicles have also been provided for voters aged 85 years and above, and persons with disabilities to assist them in reaching polling centres.

Voter Assistance Booths have been set up at all stations to provide guidance and information.

The electorate includes 4,174 first-time voters aged between 18 to 19 years, along with 1,556 voters aged above 85 years and 1,546 differently-abled persons.

Officials said some voters from these categories have already cast their votes through home voting arrangements conducted ahead of the polling day.

Earlier, 212 election-duty staff members exercised their vote through postal ballots between April 15 to 17.

Authorities have also put in place medical arrangements in coordination with hospitals in Anand, Bhalej and Karamsad to provide emergency care to election personnel.

ORS packets have been made available at polling stations as a precaution against heat-related conditions.

Voters are permitted to use any one of 12 approved identity documents, including Aadhaar card, passport, driving licence and voter ID, while non-resident Indian voters must produce their original passport for identification at polling stations.

/IANS