Shillong, Feb 27: Over 67 per cent votes were polled till 4 pm in Meghalaya Assembly election today, an election official said. "Till 4 pm, over 67 percent of the 18.09 lakh voters in the state cast their votes. Polling was peaceful," Chief Election Officer F R Kharkongor told PTI.

He said polling percentage is likely to go up as long queues were reported in a number of polling stations even after the polling was scheduled to close at 4 pm. Polling for 59 of the 60 Assembly seats was held in the north-eastern state. Polling was countermanded in the Williamnagar constituency due to the killing of NCP candidate Jonathone N Sangma ahead of the election.

In the last Assembly elections in 2013, about 88 percent polling was recorded. Heavy security was deployed in Meghalaya for the conduct of assembly polls.  Meghalaya's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) F R Kharkongor said a total of 106 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were deployed, along with the state armed personnel and police, especially in the troubled Garo Hills region.

He added that six additional companies of CAPF were deployed in the troubled East and South Garo Hills districts. Today's polling will decide the fate of 361 candidates, including 31 women and 80 Independents, election office sources said, adding that 18.09 lakh voters were eligible to exercise their franchise in 3,025 polling stations in the state.