Election Commissioner H S Brahma, on Friday, said that it would be compulsory for voters to carry their Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) to exercise their franchise in the by-elections on 12 June.
Talking to reporters after a review meeting with Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwarlal and Director General of Police V Dinesh Reddy at the state Secretariat, Brahma said that the authorities would act tough against impersonation and bogus voting in the by-polls. Therefore, it would be mandatory for voters to carry EPICs.
He said that elaborate arrangements were being made for the web-casting of the entire voting process on 12 June, from nearly 5,000 polling stations.
Brahma also warned candidates about paid articles in the press. He said that on an average, about 30% of the total poll expenditure of candidates in Andhra Pradesh goes towards paid articles.
He said the Election Commission would strictly monitor paid news, and that such amounts would be included in candidate's expenditure. If they exceed the prescribed limit of expenditure, candidates might be disqualified.
The Election Commissioner asked candidates and parties to refrain from seeking votes in the name of religion, caste or community.
Regarding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Brahma said the Electronics Corporation Of India Limited (ECIL) plans to introduce next-generation EVMs. These touch-screen EVMs would also facilitate a print-out of each vote that a voter has exercised. However, voters would not be allowed to take print-outs from the polling booth. He said he would see the demonstration of those EVMs at the ECIL plant on Saturday. (INN)