The State may be on the information highway. But it still seems to be in the bullockcart age.

When 206 local bodies, including the city corporations of Belgaum, Bellary, Mangalore, Hubli-Dharwad, Davangere, Gulbarga and Mysore, go to polls on August 30, the electorate here will be exercising its franchise through the age-old ballot papers -- instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

The State Government has been sitting on the State Election Commission’s recommendation to bring in amendment to Acts pertaining to conduct of elections to corporations, municipalities and panchayat bodies, for several years now. The Commission had recommended to the Government to amend the Karnataka Municipal Corporation (Election) Rules, 1979, the Karnataka Municipalities Act 1964, and the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act, 1993, to make provision for the use of EVMs in elections. “Unless these Acts are amended, making provision for the use of EVMs, the Commission cannot use EVMs. We have been raising the matter at all forums. But the Government has turned a deaf ear,” State Election Commission Under Secretary H S Uday Shankar said.

According to Mr Uday Shankar, these Acts state that voting should be in the form of ballot papers. “Hence, a minor amendment saying that EVMs can also be used need to be made,” he explained.

And amendments alone will not pave the way for electronic voting. The Government also needs to provide financial assistance to the Commission to purchase EVMs. There has been no reply from the government to the  proposal sent by the commission.

“Though the Central Election Commission (CEC) has offered to supply 75 per cent of total need of EVMs for any elections in the State, it is of little use as CEC’s machines cannot be used for local body elections. This is because local bodies will have multiple candidates,” he said.

Use of EVMs not only helps in early declaration of results, but also eliminates disputes.But the Commission is in no mood to take lock horns  with the Government on the use of EVMs.

“We do not want to make it another issue. Moreover, we have done our job by sending the proposal,” the official added.

To citizens’ notice
Voters’ list revision in Urban dist
The Bangalore Urban District has taken up revision of voters’ list at Yelahanka, Uttarahalli, Varthur and Anekal Assembly constituencies.

Eligible voters who have attained 18 years age as on January 2007, can register their names. Besides, change of address, change of name and others can also be done during the revision process, which will be on till August 18, 2007, according to a release.

Citizens need to fill-in the prescribed application form and submit to the local gram panchayat offices, town panchayats, municipalities and corporation ward offices and revenue offices. The forms are available at the same offices, the release stated.

Citizens are requested to check whether their names are registered in the voters’ list. If not, they can enroll themselves during this revision.

A backward move
No use of EVMs in local body polls

Ballot papers will be used again

Govt not amended Acts to allow use of EVMs

Amendment was recommended several years ago