March 14, 2002

    The Election Commission has informed that the electronic voting machines were used in 4,03,508 polling stations spread over different States and Union Territories in various elections conducted from November, 1998 onwards.

    According to the Election Commission of India, a million (10 lakhs) electronic voting machines are required for conducting the Parliamentary elections. The Commission, at present, has a stock of 2,83,800 electronic voting machines and it has placed order for procurement of additional electronic voting machines in the current financial year within the allocated budget of Rs. 142.29 crores. It will be endeavour of the Government to make provision for procurement of more electronic voting machines so that the next general elections to the Lok Sabha are held with the electronic voting machines.

    This information was given by the Union Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley in a written reply to a question from Shri S.D.N.R. Wadiyar in the Lok Sabha today.