In Himachal Pradesh around 60 percent Voters cast their vote in the first phase of panchayat elections amid tight security on Tuesday. The counting of the votes started soon after the polling process ended. 'The results for the posts of 'pradhan' or president and 'up-pradhan' or vice-president and 'panches' or ward members will be declared on Tuesday. However, counting for the members of panchayat samitis and zila parishads (district executives) would be held on Jan 4. The polling for the remaining Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) would be held Dec 30 and Jan 1.The voters braved the cold Tuesday to cast their b ballot in the first phase of the panchayat elections. Police and home guard personnel have been deployed at all polling stations to maintain law and order. With the completion of panchayat elections Himachal Pradesh is set to empower women at the grassroots level by electing only women to around 13,000 seats in the PRIs. This time 50 percent of the posts are reserved for women in the panchayat elections.State Election Commission chief Dev Swarup said, ‘The elections will be held for around 27,000 seats and 50 percent reservation means almost half of the seats would be occupied by women candidates only.’