Chandigarh: The Punjab State Election Commission has decided to conduct upcoming municipal corporation elections through ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhuri confirmed the development and said all procedural and security arrangements would be strengthened to ensure free and fair elections.
According to officials, EVMs had been requested from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in Andhra Pradesh. However, the company informed the commission that its teams and machines were fully engaged in assembly elections held in states including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, the results of which were declared on May 4.
BEL reportedly expressed its inability to provide the machines before May 10.
Delay in EVM supply prompted ballot paper decision
The State Election Commission said waiting for EVMs would have delayed the entire election process.
Officials explained that even after the arrival of machines from Andhra Pradesh, additional time would have been required for allocation to municipal bodies, technical preparations and staff training.
To avoid postponement of the civic polls, the commission decided to proceed with traditional ballot paper voting instead.
The commission added that necessary arrangements for ballot boxes, polling staff and security deployment are being finalised ahead of the elections.
