gujarat suggests change in rules to pave way for e-voting

Govt suggests change in rules to pave way for e-voting

DILIP PATEL


With civic elections scheduled in October, the state government is gearing up to implement the e-voting system. If that is made possible, the state will be the first to allow its citizens access to online voting system.
To implement this, the urban development department of the state government on Wednesday issued a draft notification for amendment of Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation (Registration of Electors) Rules, 1994. It will be published in the official gazette within 15 days. As per the new rules, a voter can cast his vote without having to stand in a queue, by using internet as the medium.
A voter who intends to cast his vote through e-voting will have to register himself by submitting an application to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) which can be obtained for Rs 5. On registration of the voter’s name, a unique biometric e-voter ID Card and personal identification number and/or password as specified by the State EC shall be issued. If the name of the e-voter is included in the electoral roll and if he migrates to other place, the electoral registration officer shall inform him about the inclusion of his name in the electoral roll within reasonable time before the day of voting.
The State EC will also set up e-voting under mobile polling booths at places like bus stops, colleges, universities, railways stations and airports.
The online voting format will be followed in municipal corporation polls in Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Jamnagar scheduled for December.
State Election Commissioner K C Kapoor said: “We have invited tenders from several companies for the biometric cards and will decide in a few days. E-voting will be open for three days while one day will be allotted to voting through EVM. The e-voters who are unable to cast their vote online can even use the EVM.”
Any objection or suggestion pertaining to the draft notification received by the principal secretary before May 25 will be considered by the state government.