EC says will be logistically ready to hold simultaneous elections by September 2018

The Election Commission said it would be ‘logistically equipped’ by September 2018 to hold simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and States

PTI
Updated4 Oct 2017, 09:35 PM IST
The Election Commission on Wednesday launched a web-based application, Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) network, aimed at efficient conduct of elections. Photo: Mint
The Election Commission on Wednesday launched a web-based application, Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) network, aimed at efficient conduct of elections. Photo: Mint(Mint)

Bhopal: The Election Commission on Wednesday launched a web-based application, Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) network, aimed at efficient conduct of elections and said it would be “logistically equipped” by September 2018 to hold Lok Sabha and state elections simultaneously.

add_main_imageThe announcement by the poll panel came days after it issued a formal direction that VVPAT or paper trail machines will be used at polling stations in all future elections where polls are held using EVMs.

“The Election Commission was asked by the Centre as what it would require for becoming capable of holding the parliamentary and assembly polls together. In response, the EC had asked for funds to purchase new EVMs and VVPAT machines. The commission would be logistically equipped by September 2018, to hold parliamentary and assembly polls together,” election commissioner O.P. Rawat told a press conference. mobAds

At the presser, the poll watchdog unveiled the electoral registration officer (ERO) network. Rawat said the commission has already placed the order for the purchase of new EVMs and VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) machines after receiving funds from the Centre. He said the poll body would get 40 lakh VVPAT machines by September 2018.

VVPAT is a machine which dispenses a slip with the symbol of the party for which a person has voted for. The slip drops in a box but the voter cannot take it home. It has only been used on trial basis in some places. Several parties have been pressing for the use of these machines to dispel doubts about EVM tampering.

Sixteen parties had recently petitioned the EC to revert to paper ballot system for greater transparency. The BSP, the AAP and the Congress had attacked the EC on the issue of alleged tampering of EVMs. NextMAds

Responding to a query, Rawat said the EC had received Rs3,400 crore for VVPAT machines and Rs12,000 crore for EVMs. “We would be logistically ready to hold simultaneous polls by September 2018, but it is up to the government to take a decision and make necessary legal amendments for it,” the election commissioner said.

Rawat said the officers involved in the poll process, right from the booth level to the national level, would be connected through the ERO network. Besides, the facility can also be used for online registration by voters. “ERO network would automatically detect duplicate registration of voters. Besides, officers from the booth level to the national level would be under one network and would be able to communicate with each other,” he said.

Explaining the utility of the app, he said the ERO network would effectively keep a check on duplication. “At times, voters migrate and get themselves registered at new places. However, they fail to get their name deleted from the previous place, which results in duplication,” he added. thirdMAds

Rawat said an error-free electoral roll is the basis for conducting a smooth, free and fair election. He informed that the poll panel had carried out the “electoral roll purification process” earlier and deleted duplicate registrations of voters.

“ERO would make this work more easy,” he said. When asked about the feasibility of an e-voting facility in future, Rawat said, “This (ERO) and the electronically transmitted postal ballot for service voters are the first and second steps towards it (e-voting)”. Rawat said they had used VVPAT machines in all the recent elections on the directive of the Supreme Court.

Catch all the Politics News and Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.

MoreLess
First Published:4 Oct 2017, 09:35 PM IST
Business NewsPoliticsPolicyEC says will be logistically ready to hold simultaneous elections by September 2018

Get Instant Loan up to ₹10 Lakh!

  • Employment Type

    Most Active Stocks

    Tata Steel share price

    149.70
    07:18 PM | 1 NOV 2024
    1.05 (0.71%)

    Indian Oil Corporation share price

    145.00
    07:19 PM | 1 NOV 2024
    2.3 (1.61%)

    Tata Power share price

    445.20
    07:19 PM | 1 NOV 2024
    5.15 (1.17%)

    Bandhan Bank share price

    183.65
    07:10 PM | 1 NOV 2024
    1.4 (0.77%)
    More Active Stocks

    Market Snapshot

    • Top Gainers
    • Top Losers
    • 52 Week High

    Rainbow Childrens Medicare share price

    1,545.00
    06:59 PM | 1 NOV 2024
    -67.25 (-4.17%)

    ICICI Securities share price

    833.45
    06:59 PM | 1 NOV 2024
    -32.85 (-3.79%)

    Vijaya Diagnostic Centre share price

    966.70
    06:59 PM | 1 NOV 2024
    -30.35 (-3.04%)

    Narayana Hrudayalaya share price

    1,235.60
    06:59 PM | 1 NOV 2024
    -36.75 (-2.89%)
    More from Top Losers

    Brigade Enterprises share price

    1,244.80
    07:19 PM | 1 NOV 2024
    71.75 (6.12%)

    PCBL share price

    432.15
    07:17 PM | 1 NOV 2024
    21.35 (5.2%)

    Piramal Pharma share price

    281.85
    07:17 PM | 1 NOV 2024
    13.45 (5.01%)

    Jubilant Pharmova share price

    1,273.00
    06:59 PM | 1 NOV 2024
    60.65 (5%)
    More from Top Gainers

    Recommended For You

      More Recommendations

      Gold Prices

      • 24K
      • 22K
      Bangalore
      80,415.00-150.00
      Chennai
      80,421.00-150.00
      Delhi
      80,573.00-150.00
      Kolkata
      80,425.00-150.00

      Fuel Price

      • Petrol
      • Diesel
      Bangalore
      102.92/L0.00
      Chennai
      100.80/L-0.43
      Kolkata
      104.95/L0.00
      New Delhi
      94.77/L0.00

      Popular in Politics

        HomeMarketsPremiumInstant LoanMint Shorts