ECI to launch three dozen apps ahead of Assembly elections

The Election Commission of India (ECI) will be rolling out more than three dozen apps in the coming days in a bid to make the 2018 Karnataka Assembly polls more "technology friendly".

For starters, the ECI on Wednesday launched an application, designed by the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (OCEO), Karnataka, to facilitate better voter enrolment/registration process, ahead of the 2018 Assembly polls.

Umesh Sinha, Senior Deputy Election Commissioner, ECI, who launched the app, said that voters can get complete details about their polling station's address, Assembly constituencies and other details on their mobile phones.

To know the details, voters have to enter their electoral photo ID card number (EPIC) or send an SMS to 9731979899 in the following format - KAEPIC (space) ID card No. (Eg: KAEPIC XYZ1509201).

Apps will be launched to address complaints, to give clearances for campaign-related activities, and to access polling stations that will be digitally mapped. To facilitate more than 25,000 service voters working both in India and abroad, ECI will also  be introducing an electronically transmitted postal ballot system.

Sinha said strict enforcement of model code of conduct and expenditure monitoring will be put in place. Enforcement agencies like I-T and Excise departments have been asked to track movement of cash on interstate borders, and take action against distributing gifts in tokens and coupons form. Central police forces will be provided at all strategic locations, while  CCTVs, flying squads and static surveillance teams will be set up in all constituencies.

The expenditure limit for a candidate is Rs 28 lakh. Media monitoring committees will be set up in all districts to keep a watch on cases of paid news.