Though the Election Commission is all set to reprimand Sharad Pawar for asking his supporters to vote for his Nationalist Congress Party twice, once in their hometowns and again in their places of work, officials say they have introduced new measures for the forthcoming elections that make fraud impossible.
For these elections, voters will receive slips with their photographs and a specific number printed on them. Known as EPICs, these Election Photo Identity Cards will be delivered to voters' homes by government-appointed Booth Level Officers several days before the elections. In addition to letting voters know where exactly they will cast their ballots, the process will also allow the booth level officers to find out if a voter has moved away.
The photos on the EPIC slips will be obtained from the person’s permanent voter ID card. Voters who fail to receive their slips can collect them at the booth on election day.
“The voting slip photograph and EPIC number are matched with the electoral list available with the Presiding Officers,” said commission spokesperson Rajesh Malhotra.
As a back-up, voters at most of the 930,000 booths across the country will be recorded on video. At select booths, the commission will use web cameras to monitor the proceedings.
The EPIC system was used for the first time during Bihar state elections in 2010 and has been implemented in five states, including Chhattisgarh and Delhi in November.
In the past, voting slips would be generated and distributed by agents of political parties. The new system limits the role they play, with an eye to keeping bogus voters away.
The Election Commission is also planning to implement a voter auditing system, which ensures that voters get a printed receipt after they have punched their vote on the Electronic Voting Machine. However, the Election Commission spokesman said the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail would be introduced only in 20,000 polling booths, subject to the commission being able to procure the requisite number of printers before March 31.
In addition, the commission will keep in touch with presiding officers through mobile text messages. Officers will have to send at least 17 SMSes to the commission headquarters, keeping it informed about unusual incidents – such as attempts to vote twice – and about polling percentages after every two hours.
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For these elections, voters will receive slips with their photographs and a specific number printed on them. Known as EPICs, these Election Photo Identity Cards will be delivered to voters' homes by government-appointed Booth Level Officers several days before the elections. In addition to letting voters know where exactly they will cast their ballots, the process will also allow the booth level officers to find out if a voter has moved away.
The photos on the EPIC slips will be obtained from the person’s permanent voter ID card. Voters who fail to receive their slips can collect them at the booth on election day.
“The voting slip photograph and EPIC number are matched with the electoral list available with the Presiding Officers,” said commission spokesperson Rajesh Malhotra.
As a back-up, voters at most of the 930,000 booths across the country will be recorded on video. At select booths, the commission will use web cameras to monitor the proceedings.
The EPIC system was used for the first time during Bihar state elections in 2010 and has been implemented in five states, including Chhattisgarh and Delhi in November.
In the past, voting slips would be generated and distributed by agents of political parties. The new system limits the role they play, with an eye to keeping bogus voters away.
The Election Commission is also planning to implement a voter auditing system, which ensures that voters get a printed receipt after they have punched their vote on the Electronic Voting Machine. However, the Election Commission spokesman said the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail would be introduced only in 20,000 polling booths, subject to the commission being able to procure the requisite number of printers before March 31.
In addition, the commission will keep in touch with presiding officers through mobile text messages. Officers will have to send at least 17 SMSes to the commission headquarters, keeping it informed about unusual incidents – such as attempts to vote twice – and about polling percentages after every two hours.
