Anand, April 23 : Polling for the Umreth Assembly bye-election in Gujaratâ??s Anand district is continuing steadily, with 25.65 per cent voter turnout recorded by 11 A.M., according to data released by the Election Commission of India.

Voting began at 7 A.M. on Thursday across 306 polling stations spread over urban and rural parts of the constituency, which includes 46 villages of Umreth taluka and surrounding Anand rural areas, along with the municipalities of Ode, Umreth and Boriavi.

The constituency has a total electorate of 2,45,623 voters, who are deciding the outcome among six candidates in the fray.

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

Officials said arrangements have been made to ensure smooth conduct of voting, with a workforce of around 1,348 polling personnel deployed on duty, supported by 22 micro observers and 19 district-level nodal officers, taking the total field deployment to nearly 1,500 staff members.

Webcasting facilities have been installed at all polling stations for real-time monitoring of the process.

Security has been tightened across the constituency with the deployment of two Deputy Superintendents of Police, four Police Inspectors, around 500 police and home guard personnel, along with three companies of the Central Reserve Police Force to maintain law and order.

To facilitate voter participation, authorities have arranged 218 wheelchairs for elderly and differently-abled voters, along with 361 volunteers stationed across polling centres.

Six vehicles have also been deployed to assist senior citizens aged 85 and above, as well as Persons with Disabilities (PwD), in reaching polling stations.

Voter Assistance Booths have been set up at all locations to help citizens with information and support.

The electorate includes 4,174 first-time voters aged 18â??19 years, while 1,556 voters above the age of 85 and 1,546 PwDs are also registered in the constituency.

Officials confirmed that some of these voters have already exercised their franchise through home voting arrangements.

Authorities have also ensured medical preparedness during polling, with arrangements made in coordination with hospitals in Anand, Bhalej and Karamsad for emergency care of election personnel.

ORS packets have been distributed at polling stations as a precaution against heat-related issues.

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

/IANS