Ballot boxes with QR codes to be used in PRI polls: Election Commissioner

State Election Commissioner Anil Khachi announced that ballot boxes in the upcoming Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) elections will be tracked and scanned using QR codes. During a review meeting of the election preparations, he emphasised that officials concerned should stay updated on the election process. Khachi instructed that the ballot boxes be prepared in advance, including necessary repairs, greasing and oiling, so they can be ready for use at any time. Once refurbished, QR codes will be affixed to the boxes to facilitate tracking and location tracing.

Other election materials and stationery will also be distributed through an inventory management system, ensuring proper record-keeping of each item, he said. The commissioner further mentioned that the reorganisation and delimitation of panchayats and wards of block and zila parishads, if necessary, would be completed promptly, along with the updating of electoral rolls. The electoral rolls would be prepared using the Electoral Rolls Management System, he added.

Deputy Commissioner Amarjit Singh, ADM Rahul Chauhan, and all SDMs and Tehsildars of the district were also present at the meeting.

Meanwhile, in Bilaspur, Chief Election Commissioner Nandita Gupta reviewed the security arrangements for the storage of EVMs and VVPATs at a warehouse at Lakhanpur. Accompanied by Bilaspur DC Abid Hussain Sadiq, she directed the district administration to strictly adhere to the guidelines set in the Standard Operating Procedure for the storage and maintenance of EVMs. SDM Abhishek Garg, Tehsildar (Election)Vijay Sharma, Naib Tehsildar (Election) Vijay Kumar and, political leaders Banta Singh (Congress) and Chaman Gupta (BJP) were also present on the occasion.