Bengaluru, Apr 19: The State Election Commission (SEC) has decided to introduce Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for the first time in the coming Gram Panchayat elections in the State.
Directions have been issued to the district administration to make preparations in this regard and give training to the election staff,” State Election Commissioner P N Srinivasachary said. Ballot papers will be used for polling in other districts. Unlike elections to other local bodies, there has to be multiple voting options for Gram Panchayat elections.
Normally, Electronic Voting Machines are designed for single voting. The SEC, therefore, got the machines specially designed from Hyderabad-based Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL). Many States including Kerala, Maharastra and Madhya Pradesh have already introduced EVMs in Gram Panchayat elections, he said.
The State Election Commission is planning to hold elections to 5,476 Gram Panchayats either in the last week of May or first week of June, depending on the security arrangements. Gram Panchayat elections are not fought on party symbols.
The Commissioner said an estimated 60,000 Electronic Voting Machines are required for introducing them in Gram Panchayat elections across the State. About Rs 150 crore is required for procuring these machines. The SEC has urged the State government to provide funds for this purpose. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and ECIL are the only two companies that manufacture Electronic Voting Machines in the country.
Hiring basis
This apart, a proposal has been mooted at the recently-held conference of State election commissioners held in Delhi to make these EVMs available on hiring to all the States.
Representatives of the two companies were also present in the conference. The plan is to set up a mechanism wherein the companies would supply Electronic Voting Machines on hire to the States.
A sub-committee headed by State Election Commissioner of Jharkhand has been set up to look into the proposal, he added.
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