Guwahati: An estimated 12.36 per cent of over 74 lakh voters exercised their franchise in the first two hours of polling on Tuesday in four Lok Sabha seats of Assam, an election official said. Voting has been brisk since morning with the weather being sunny and women and first-time voters queuing up outside polling booths in large numbers, he said

Tight security arrangements have been made across the four constituencies -- Dhubri, Kokrajhar (ST), Barpeta and Gauhati -- to ensure peaceful voting in the third and final phase of elections in the state. Dhubri registered the highest voter turnout till 9 am at 14.52 per cent, followed by Gauhati at 12.38 per cent and Barpeta at 11.71 per cent. Kokrajhar recorded the lowest voter turnout so far at 10.41 per cent.