Lucknow, Nov 3 (PTI) Voting for bypolls to seven Assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh began on Tuesday morning amidst COVID-19 protocol and tight security.

The electoral fortune of 88 candidates, including nine women, will be decided by 24.34 lakh voters, including 13.03 lakh male voters, in these bypolls.

Also Read | Bihar Assembly Elections 2020 Phase 2 Voting Live News Updates: Social Distancing Norms Being Followed as Voters Stand in Queues at Polling Booths in Patna.

This is the first democratic exercise being held in the state post the coronavirus pandemic. The voters will exercise their franchise at 3,655 polling booths spread over 1,754 polling centres.

The seats where the bypolls are being held are Tundla, Ghatampur, Naugaon Sadat, Bulandshahr, Bangarmau, Deoria and Malhani.

Also Read | Bihar Assembly Elections 2020 Phase 2 Live Streaming: Watch Live Updates on Voting in 94 Constituencies on Zee Bihar Jharkhand and News18 Bihar Jharkhand.

Six of these seats were held by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and one by the Samajwadi Party (SP).

"All preparations to ensure free, fair and peaceful polling, keeping in mind the coronavirus pandemic, have been made. Voters will have to adhere to the COVID-19 protocol and maintain a safe distance among themselves while casting votes," Chief Electoral Officer Ajay Kumar Shukla said.

Adequate security forces have been deployed to maintain peace and ensure orderly polling at the booths, including 371 "critical" ones.

The counting of votes will be taken up on November 10.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)