Elections should be conducted impartially and peacefully
Bhopal: Apart from being transparent and error-free, the ensuing urban body and 3-tier Panchayat elections in the state should also be held impartially and peacefully. In these elections, EVMs will be used for election of all posts except panch. Information technology should also be used extensively to create voter awareness. This was stated by State Election Commissioner Shri R. Parasuram while reviewing preparations for urban body and Panchayat elections in the state at a meeting at Indore today.
Shri Parasuram informed that Urban body elections in the state will be held in November, 2014. After this, notification for elections to 3-tier Panchayats will be issued. NOTA option will also be used during Panchayat and urban body elections. It will be in the end of ballot unit.
Shri Parasuram informed that EVMs will be used for election of all posts except panch. Election of panchs will be held through ballot boxes. New type of EVMs will be used in these elections through which votes can be cast at the same time for Chairperson and Corporator of urban body. In Panchayat elections, votes can be cast simultaneous for members of Zila and Janpad Panchayats and sarpanchas.
The State Election Commissioner informed that urban body elections will be held on the basis of photo electoral rolls. For this, electoral rolls prepared polling booth-wise by Election Commission of India will be made the basis. They will be converted into ward-wise electoral rolls. He laid emphasis on preparation of error-free electoral rolls to ensure free and fair elections.
It was informed at the meeting that extensive publicity campaign will be undertaken to create awareness among voters in local body elections. State Election Commission has given the campaign the name “SENSE”. The commission has developed its website www.mplocalelection.gov.in on which every election-related information is being uploaded. Facebook and social media links have also been given on the website.
At the meeting, a demonstration was also given on the functioning and operation of EVMs. Information was given about important parts of EVMs like control units, ballot units and DMM.
Mock poll also held: After the meeting, a mock poll was also held at divisional office. State Election Commissioner Shri Parasuram, Commission’s Secretary Shri G.P. Shrivastava, Indore Commissioner Shri Sanjay Dube and Collector Shri Akash Tripathi cast votes in the mock poll.
All collectors of and district election officers, deputy district election officers, Municipal Corporation Commissioner and other concerning officers were present on the occasion.
