Upgraded EVMs in 22 segments for 2017 poll

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 6

In the coming 2017 Assembly elections, the Election Commission will install electronic voting machines (EVMs) that will generate a paper chit having record of vote cast by each elector.

Equipped with voter verifying paper audit trail (VVPAT) technology, such EVMs would be installed at least in 22 assembly segments (one segment in each district) on pilot project basis.

“The record sheet generated will be automatically stored in boxes attached with EVMs. Sometimes voters complain that EVM is not lighting up the symbol they were pressing. Therefore, in such a scenario, polling agents can ascertain whether voter’s claim is true or not,” said VK Singh, Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab

“As per the apex court directions, all states have to introduce such machines at all polling stations by 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Their introduction in 2017 elections will be a preparatory exercise. Such EVMs will be installed in all polling stations of 22 segments,” he said.

Campus ambassadors

To encourage the eligible first time voters to get themselves registered as electors before 2017, the Election Commission has decided to choose a “campus ambassador” from among students in each higher education institute of Punjab.

The ambassador, along with a nodal officer who will be selected from the teaching staff of the institute, will prepare list of eligible voters studying in the institute, apart from anchoring EC’s campaigns aimed at sensitising first-time voters.

“The challenge before us is to enrol maximum youngsters in 18-19 age group as voters. Presently, only around 2.5 lakh youngsters of this age group are enrolled and we aim to double it by the end of this year,” said the CEO.

Eight lakh ghost voters

The CEO said around eight lakh voters had been deleted from electoral rolls in the last one year. “Most of these voters are either dead or have shifted from the residential addresses mentioned by them in electoral records. Some are married to other states”, he added.