Voting is under way in 222 of the 224 constituencies in Karnataka and will be on till 6 p.m. on Saturday. Initially, there were reports about delay in polling due to some technical issues in the electronic voting machines (EVMs) from different parts of the State. Faulty EVMs were replaced immediately by the election officers at many booths. Despite rain, voters are turning out in large numbers to exercise their franchise. While the Congress is seeking a second term, the BJP is aiming to firm up its label as a pan-Indian party by winning a State election in the South, a region where it is not ruling now. The Janta Dal (Secular) is contesting polls in alliance with the BSP and the AIMIM. Elections to R.R. Nagar has been postponed after over 9,000 voter ID cards were seized in the constituency. Voters from Jayanagar, too, won't be exercising their franchise on May 12 as the elections were countermanded after the demise of BJP candidate and sitting MLA Vijay Kumar. Here are the live updates: Polling delayed at some booths in Mandya Technical glitches delayed voting at some booths in Mandya district on Saturday. The district has seven Assembly segments and 84 candidates including Independents. While polling started on a low note at many booths, it was brisk at some places, especially in K.R. Pet and Srirangapatna taluks. Akkai Padamshali, a noted transgender activist who voted for the first time in the elections, says it has been a 16-year long to exercise her democratic right. Till now, election officials had refused to enroll her as a "female" in the cards. However, earlier this year, after nearly a year of process, she was given a voters ID card. "It is a great happiness that I can finally vote," she tells Mohit M. Rao. VVPAT machines used for voting The voter verified paper audit trail, better known as VVPAT got a thumbs-up from many voters. Prashanth B.R., a businessman from Hosakote says: “The machines this year are better as we get to see which candidate and party we have voted for after we press the button.” Meanwhile, voting was delayed in Kannur in Gokak taluk after some voters complained that they were unable to see the images of the voted slip in the VVPAT unit. Gender empowerment in the time of voting A 'sakhi' booth that is managed by women. For the first time in Karnataka, all-woman polling booths have been established across the State. Called ‘Sakhi’, these pink booths are those fully managed by women officers. Pictures of women staff dressed in pink clothing adorn the booth. The police staff here too are women. The idea is to encourage more voters to cast their ballot without fail. In some pink booths, voters are greeted with roses. The pink booths made its debut in Punjab Assembly polls and is being followed since then. Age no bar Ghashabi, 95, of Bhimalli village in Gulbarga Dakshin constituency shows her ink-marked finger after casting her vote. Ghashabi, 95, from Bhimalli village in Gulbarga Dakshin constituency exercised her franchise at 9.30 a.m. on Saturday. She claims that the she had witnessed the attack of Razakars (the army of Hyderabad Nizam) in 1948. She also claims that she had exercised her franchise in all the elections in Independent India. Ghashabi is not alone. Several nonagenarians and centenarians are casting their votes. This includes the 111-year-old Siddaganga Mutt seer Shivakumara Swami. Very senior citizens and differently-abled people are allowed to directly inside the booth without standing in queue. These persons can bring a companion with them too. Ola and Uber services down Since May 11, Ola and Uber services are down as most drivers are from old Mysuru region. They've gone back to their villages. Ravi, a driver with Uber, went to Pavagada taluk, to vote. Venkata Reddy, a driver, went back to Sidlaghatta over the weekend to vote. “Voting is near-compulsory as the village head questions us if we don't vote. If we vote, the village head will help us in issues in our village.” Anil Kumble tweets out Anil Kumble posts a selfie from the polling booth in Bengaluru. "Waiting for our turn to vote! Urging everyone to exercise their rights as citizens!" veteren cricketer and former Team India coach Anil Kumble has tweeted at 9:20 am. The Bengalurean would have casted his vote by now. An average of 10% votes have been casted till 9 am, according to Karnataka Chief Electoral officer EC ropes in Facebook Facebook has created reminders for its users to vote for the election on Saturday. The reminder also provides option to upload a photo to show you have voted. Facebook is filled with posts of people posing with their inked fingers. The Election Commission has tied up with Facebook for its SWEEP campaign to urge more adults to exercise their franchise. Yaduveer votes for the first time Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar shows his voter ID card while standing in a queue to cast his vote at a polling centre in Mysuru on Saturday. | Photo Credit: M.A.Sriram Special Correspondent, Mysuru: Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar exercised his franchise for the first time in Mysuru on Saturday. He was in the U.S. pursuing his graduation during the 2013 elections. Standing in the queue as a common man, the 25-year-old scion of the Mysuru Royal family waited for his turn and cast his ballot at a polling booth in Krishnaraja constituency in Mysuru. He urged the people to vote without fail as it was their responsibility. Bidar records 5.5% at 9 a.m.; Dakshina Kannada 7.3% Vishwa Kundapura from Kolar: The rural police in Kolar have arrested four persons on charges of enticing voters on Saturday. They were reportedly distributing nose-rings (moogu natthu) to women voters at an area off NH75 asking to vote for Congress candidate. The police are interrogating the accused. Ansil Kumar Sastry, Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada witnessed 7.3% voting by 9 a.m. on Saturday. Enthusiastic voters lined up in front of booths despite the heavy rains on Friday night. Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha member Nalin Kumar Kateel exercised his franchise at Lady Hill in Mangaluru. Kumaraswamy will become CM: Revanna Special Correspondent from Hassan: “If the Congress comes to power, the State would face drought. I am confident, people will vote for the JD(S) hoping for a good rainy season,” Former Minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Revanna said after casting his vote at Paduvalahippe in Holenarsipur constituency on Saturday. “The JD(S) would come to power and H.D. Kumaraswamy would become Chief Minister of the State,” Mr. Revanna said. His son Prajwal Revanna seconded his father's statement that if the Congress comes to power the State would face drought. Rains fail to dampen voters’ spirit Voters stand in queue to cast their vote at a booth in MS palya, in Bengaluru on Saturday. | Photo Credit: Sudhakara Jain After a night of heavy rains, Bengaluru woke up to a cool morning on Saturday. Several voters from across the City reached their polling booths early in the morning to cast their votes in the 2018 Assembly elections. Polling delayed in Udupi Voting was delayed by an hour at booth no. 186 at Kukkikatte in Udupi Assembly constituency due to technical snag in an EVM. Polling began around 8.10 a.m. after the EVM was replaced. As there was a delayed start, the BJP demanded extension of polling at the booth by an hour. Roads damaged in Belagavi Many voters faced difficulties in approaching a booth in Shva Basava Nagar in Belagavi due damaged and water-logged roads as there were heavy rains in the area on Friday night. A part of the road had been dug up for laying cables under the Smart Cities project. Deve Gowda casts his vote Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda arrivs at a booth in Paduvalahippe in Holenarsipur to exercise his franchise. | Photo Credit: Satish G.T. Former PM H.D. Deve Gowda, accompanied by wife Channamma, son Revanna, daughter-in-law Bhavani Revanna and grandson Prajwal, visited Kodandarama temple next to the booth before exercising their franchise. Earlier in the day, he also visited temples at Holenarsipur, Haradanahalli and Mavinakere. Mr. Gowda exuded confidence that his parry will come to power and the situation of seeking an alliance will not arise. After casting his vote at a booth in Paduvalahippe in Holenarsipur constituency Mr. Gowda said, the Congress and the BJP spent had huge money for the elections. “Our party cannot match those parties in terms of resources. If voters support us without heeding to the resources spent, we will win.” “I know voters of this constituency very well,” he said, adding that he had been with them for the last 50 years. Faulty EVMs replaced Special Correspondent from Hassan: Mock polling was conducted after the electronic voting machines (EVMs), Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines and control units were replaced at Paduvalahippe polling booth in Holenarsipur constituency on Saturday morning. Election officers reached the booth and replaced the machines following complaints of technical glitch in the EVMs. 29 people had already voted by then. The officers briefed the polling agents that the votes cast earlier would also be accounted for and that the EVMs used earlier would be sealed separately. The polling was disrupted for nearly 30 minutes. Staff Reporter from Shivamogga: Polling was stopped for 45 minutes owing to technical glitch in an electronic voting machine (EVM) at a polling station in Shanthi Nagar locality in Shivamogga segment limits. Kumar Buradikatti from Yadgir: By the time technical problem was noticed, 31 voters had already cast their votes. The polling resumed after the EVM was replaced by the sector officer. There was a brief halt in voting at Polling Station 7 in Yadgir and polling station 8 in Shorapur due to technical problems. But, voting resumed after a few minutes. PM, Siddaramaiah and Rahul tweet On Friday evening, while the Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted in Kannada asking people of Karnataka to vote and participate in the festival of democracy, Chief Minsiter Siddaramaiah urged the people, especially youngsters, to come out and cast their vote and celebrate the festival of democracy. Mr. Siddaramaiah also urged them to remember the progress of the State in the last 5 years. Meanwhile Congress president Rahul Gandhi, in a tweet on Saturday, welcomed the yougsters who are voting for the first time. The voter turnout is sign of dynamic democracy, he said. Technical glitch at Paduvalalu and Paduvalahippe Polling has been delayed at Paduvalalu polling station in Belur constituency due to technical glitch in EVMs. The polling staff have informed the senior officials for replacement of the defective machines. The voters have been asked to wait until then. Polling has been stopped at Paduvalahippe in Holenarsipur constituency due to a technical issue in the EVMs. Former Prime Minister H.D Deve Gowda and his family members are expected to exercise their franchise at this polling station. Sector officers have reached the spot and replaced the faulty machines around 7:45 a.m. 29 people had voted by then. Polling has also been delayed at Booth no. 185 in Lamington School of Hubballi after EVMs developed a technical snag. Voting begins Voting began in the 222 Assembly constituencies in Karnataka at 7 a.m. on Saturday. People were seen waiting in a long queue at a polling centre in Mysuru.

Stay updated with all the Bangalore Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.