This may sound strange in a State which boasts of supremacy in information technology and where public sector unit Bharat Electronics manufactures electronic voting machines: the use of machines in panchayat elections is barred by law.
State Election Commissioner M.R. Hegde told The Hindu here on Saturday that in the light of the mix-up of ballot papers in the panchayat elections, the commission has decided to draw the attention of the State Government to the need to amend the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act, which does not permit the use of electronic voting machines. Elections to the Legislative Assembly and the Lok Sabha are held under the provisions of the Representation of People Act, which permits the use of voting machines.
The Central Election Commission (CEC) had agreed to provide electronic voting machines to States where panchayat elections were being held. If the law had permitted it and adequate funds were made available, Karnataka could have accepted the offer and prevented a mix-up of ballot papers.
More: http://www.hindu.com/2005/12/25/stories/2005122520260500.htm
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