The verdict of the over nine crore voters who exercised their franchise in the 638 Assembly constituencies in the four states, one Parliamentary election in Broach, Gujarat, and 12 by-elections in five states will start coming in from early November 28 when counting is scheduled to begin.

Delhi's disinterested public registered only a 52 per cent voting average, nearly 10 per cent less than the voter percentage in the last Assembly polls held in 1993.

Mizoram touched a high voter turnout of over 70 per cent, while Rajasthan followed with 60 per cent and MP with a 50 per cent voter turnout, according to the Election Commission.

For voters in 16 constituencies, including six in Delhi, today's polls were also their first encounter with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). For SushmaSwaraj and Sonia Gandhi, to the humblest anonymous voter in these 16 constituencies, it was a new experience, as the touch of a button set off a loud beep and a flashing red light to indicate that their vote had been cast.

Expressing his satisfaction with the ``positive feedback'' about the smooth switchover to EVMs, Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill indicated that this would be the shape of things to come in many of the nine states where by-elections are due next year. ``We'll finally do away with ballot papers, ballot boxes, string and sealing wax,'' he declared.

And results would come in that much faster. In fact, with the EVM counting of votes takes place simultaneously with the casting of votes. But the results cannot be revealed since the EC may order a repoll, if any is warranted, tomorrow. When counting begins on Nov 28, these results would be available as soon as the machines are switched on.

The elections this time round, also did not see any serious complaints to the Commission aboutlavish moneyspending on the part of candidates. ``The code of conduct was well observed by the political parties in all four states. The parties may not have agreed with the Commission's diktat but nevertheless have observed the rules,'' Gill told journalists at the end of the day. But he was quick to add that this was ``not to the Commission's glory but reflected that the political system in the country was working more effectively.''

Despite the EC's optimism about the overall peaceful nature of the polls in the four states, reports of minor violent incidents came in from many constituencies.

The most serious incident was in dacoit-infested Bhind district, where apart from the three persons killed in the exchange of fire between Congress and BJP workers, at least 10 persons were injured.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Ashok Kumar Vijayvargia said he had recommended to the Nirvachan Sadan headquarters of the EC in New Delhi that repolling be held in five polling stations in four constituenciesof the state following attempts of booth capturing.

Incidents of snatching and tearing of ballot papers were reported from three Assembly constituencies of Laxmangarh, Nadbai and Jaipur rural in Rajasthan. A repoll was ordered in eight polling stations, state CEO Sudhir Verma said.

In Delhi, there was one instance of ballot-snatching in Nasirpur and stray incidents of violence in East Delhi, especially in Seelampur and Wazirpur.

However, in the sensitive north-eastern state of Mizoram, polling was "perfectly peaceful'', according to reports from the capital, Aizawl. In Broach, Gujarat, the lone Lok Sabha constituency that went to the polls, polling was suspended in Rajgadh polling station after some 50 persons forced their way into the polling booth, stamped and stuffed around 200 ballot papers into the ballot boxes.