February 6, 2002
‘7’
PROCUREMENT OF ADDITIONAL ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES
The Union Cabinet has approved purchase of additional Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for the Election Commission of India at a cost of Rs. 8670 per unit excluding transportation, excise duty and sales tax within the funds available during the current financial year 2001-2002 and the further such machines during the financial years 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 within the funds to be allocated by the Government. The total requirement of EVMs by the Election Commission has been projected at 10 lakh including 25 per cent reserves. At present, the Election Commission has 2,83,800 EVMs at its disposal.
Augmentation of EVMs will help the Commission to conduct elections in a hassle -free manner. This is expected to check electoral malpractices, eliminate use of ballot papers, stop altogether use of special type of printing paper in large quantity, accelerate the pace of polling, reduce number of polling personnel, lessen expenditure on transportation for carrying polling officials and large quantity of ballot papers and ballot boxes. Besides, this would held in quick counting of votes immediately after the poll and declaration of the results. Thus the entire process is expected to result in saving of expenditure on printing of election materials and may also reduce the scope for rejection of votes.