The Hindu : Kerala News : SEC for electronic voting in civic polls

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 17, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

SEC for electronic voting in civic polls

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, SEPT 16. The State Election Commission has recommended to the Government to use electronic voting machines in the local bodies elections scheduled to be held in September next.

After demonstrating the new EVMs made by Electronic Corporation of India Limited here today, the Commissioner, N. Mohandas, told reporters that the EVMs used for the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections can be used to cast only two votes. However, the new machines can be used to cast eight votes at one go. The machines have been designed to suit the multi-poll, multi-post system, Mr. Mohandas said.

At present, there are 17,095 wards in the local bodies institutions in the State. If the Government approves the commission's proposal to delimit the wards on the basis of population, the number would go up further. If the Government okays the proposal to elect the heads of civic bodies directly, each voter will have to cast an additional vote. The Government would have to procure 34,000 EVMs in the coming elections if there is no change in the number of booths. The cost of a machine is Rs.11,000. If the Government decides to use the machines, it can save the recurring expenditure. A sum of Rs.6 crore was spent during the last civic elections to print ballot papers.

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