Dehradun/Mussoorie, July 25 -- A voter turnout of over 55% was recorded in the first phase of three tier panchayat elections in the state on Thursday, the state election commission said, adding that the polling to the first phase of panchayat elections held peacefully. The polling percentage was 11.72% at 10 am, which rose to 55% by 4 pm, according to the data shared by the state election commission. At the time of writing this report, the final figures were yet to be released by the state election commission. State election commission secretary Rahul Kumar Goyal said, "Polling began at 8 am. Although the scheduled time for voting was till 5 pm, all those standing in the queue will be allowed to cast their vote. As of 4 pm, the voter turnout was 55%, but updated figures will be available by the evening." Goyal said. "The polling to the first phase of panchayat elections held peacefully across the state. No untoward incident was reported." Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami cast his vote at booth number 3 of Government Adarsh Primary School, Nagla Tarai in Udham Singh Nagar district. Accompanied by his mother, Bishna Devi, the chief minister queued up with other voters before exercising his franchise. Dhami urged all rural voters to participate enthusiastically in the three-tier panchayat elections, stating that every single vote can play a decisive role in strengthening panchayati raj institutions in the state. The voting for the second phase of the panchayat elections in 12 districts (excluding Haridwar) will be held on July 28. The polling was earlier scheduled to be conducted in two phases - on July 10 and July 15 - with counting on July 19. However, the election process was halted following the high court stay on June 23. The HC stayed the three tier panchayat elections in the state while hearing separate petitions filed by Ganesh Datt Kandpal and Virendra Singh Butola, who pointed out that the reservation rules framed by the state had not been officially notified in the government gazette, rendering the entire process invalid. On June 27, the HC vacated the stay on panchayat elections and ordered the state election commission to resume the process. According to the state election commission, across 89 development blocks in 12 districts, the elections are taking place in two phases to elect 55,587 village panchayat members, 7,499 village panchayat heads (pradhans), 2,974 block development council members, and 358 district (zila) panchayat members. Over 4.777 million voters are enlisted as voters in this panchayat elections. As per the breakup, 2.31 million are women voters, and 2.465 million are men voters. State Congress vice president Suryakant Dhasmana said, "From the moment elections were announced across the state, the atmosphere started shifting in our favour...High court pulled up the government. there was a clear wave against the BJP throughout the state. people voted against the BJP and in favour of Congress-supported candidates. Our prospects are good... Congress will perform well in both phases." Meanwhile, state BJP media in -harge Manveer Singh Chauhan said, "It is very clear from the previous elections, including the civil body elections, that the people of the state have no faith in the Congress. We will register a big victory in the panchayat elections."...