With more than 16 candidates remaining in the poll fray from Chandigarh lok Sabha seat, the Chandigarh Election Department would have to seek more Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to overcome the trouble of EVMs shortfall in the polls.
In all, there are 17 candidates in the ballot tussle from Chandigarh. A total of 21 candidates had filed their nomination papers from Chandigarh constituency but two withdrew their candidature while two substitute nominations were rejected leaving 17 candidates in the poll fray.
The EVM has a capacity to allow voting for 16 candidates. Now, with the number of candidates exceeding 16 and with an additional option of None of The Above (NOTA) button available in EVMs this time, the Chandigarh Election Department has to provide two EVMs at each polling booth in the city.
There are 519 polling booths in Chandigarh. Besides, making arrangement for 1038 EVMs, the Election Commission would require additional machines to overcome breakdowns or other technical faults in the EVMs.
The polling in Chandigarh would be held on April 10. During 2009 lok Sabha polls, 14 candidates were contesting from the lone Chandigarh lok Sabha seat. UT Joint Chief Electoral Officer Tilak Raj while talking to The Pioneer said, “The Chandigarh Election Department would require more EVMs now. As the number of candidates is 17 and there is an option of NOTA button in EVMs this time, the Chandigarh Election Department would write to Election Commission of India seeking more EVMs.”
He said, “The Department would require about 300 more EVMs for the polling day. At present, the Chandigarh Election Department has more than 900 EVMs.” “Two EVMs would be placed in each polling station now. The Election Department would require 1,038 EVMs for polling stations and more than 300 additional EVMs now,” he added. Meanwhile, the UT Election Department would facilitate the polling staff to exercise their franchise in the forthcoming lok Sabha polls.
Tilak Raj said, “An election duty certificate would be issued to all the employees on poll duty so that they can exercise their franchise at the same polling booth where they are deployed. Other polling staff — including police personnels can cast their vote at the nearest polling booth.” “There are more than 8,000 employees — including police personnel who would be on polling duty on April 10. last time, the electors on poll duty could not cast their vote,” he added. After the revision of the electoral rolls, Chandigarh has 6,13,938 registered voters.
There were a total of 3,32,888 male voters (54.22 per cent) in the city and 2,81,050 female voters (45.77 per cent). Earlier, there were 5,80,700 registered voters in the city. The electors’ turnout in Chandigarh has remained below 67 per cent in the previous elections. The UT Election Department is targeting to ensure 80 per cent voters’ turnout in this poll.
With an aim to spread message of ‘ethical voting’ and ‘maximum voters’ participation’ among electors in view of ensuing lok Sabha polls, the UT Election Department has been organising ‘Nukkad Natak’ at various places across the city. Also, the Department has tied up with sweet shops and hotels to propagate the message of ‘ethical voting’ and ‘maximum voters’ participation’ among Chandigarh electors.