Poll Body's New Reform, Candidates' Photos On Voting Machines, Begins From Bihar
The Election Commission of India has made some changes to make Electronic Voting Machine ballot papers clearer and more voter-friendly.
- Date & Time:
- |
- Views: 27
- |
- From: India News Bull
The enhanced EVM ballot papers will debut in upcoming elections, with Bihar being the first state to implement them.
New Delhi:
The Election Commission of India has implemented significant updates to make Electronic Voting Machine ballot papers more user-friendly and visually distinct. EVM ballot papers, which are affixed to voting machines displaying political parties and their symbols, have traditionally been black and white. Now, in a groundbreaking change, these ballot papers will include color photographs of the candidates.
To ensure voters can easily identify candidates, three-quarters of the designated photo space will feature the candidate's face, maximizing visibility.
Candidate serial numbers and the NOTA (None Of The Above) option will be displayed more clearly using bold international Indian numerals for better legibility. All candidate names will be printed in a uniform, larger font size to enhance readability across the ballot.
The ballot papers will also be printed on higher grade paper to improve overall quality. For assembly elections specifically, pink paper will be used for the ballots.
This enhancement is part of 28 reforms implemented by the ECI over the past six months, aimed at strengthening electoral procedures and making the voting experience more accessible for citizens.
The newly upgraded EVM ballot papers will make their debut in upcoming elections, with Bihar being the first implementation.
What Is An EVM?
An EVM consists of two primary components - a control unit and a balloting unit, connected by a cable. The control unit remains with the presiding officer (also called polling officer), while the balloting unit is placed in the private voting compartment where voters cast their ballots.
At polling stations, after verifying a voter's identity, the polling officer activates the ballot button, enabling the person to vote.
The ballot unit displays candidates' names and symbols with blue buttons positioned beside them. Voters simply press the button next to their preferred candidate to cast their vote.