Polling began on a slow note in Uttar Pradesh today with only 10 per cent voters turning up to exercise their franchise in first three hours of polling.
As many as 16 constituencies are being covered in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections in the state.
"Till 10 am, about ten per cent votes were polled in all the 16 constituencies. Voting percentage is slightly low in Naxal infested districts of Mirzapur, Sonebhadra and Chandauli," an election department officials here said.
According to reports from Gorakhpur, some people blocked national highway after they were denied voting as their names did not figure in the electoral rolls.
Security personnel used mild force to disperse the agitating crowd.
In Maharajganj, residents of Nagwan village having over 600 electorate, boycotted poll process to protest against lack of amenities in the area.
In Ballia, from where former prime minister Chandra Shekhar's son Neeraj Shekhar is seeking re-election, nearly 10 per cent votes were polled in the first two hours of polling.
"Polling is by and large peaceful and there is no report of any untoward incident from anywhere in the state," the officials said.
