EVMs to show photos of candidates

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the Rajasthan bypolls will have photographs of candidates contesting on it so the voters don’t get confused about namesakes. This is first time in the country such mechanism is being used for Lok Sabha election. 

Bypolls are due in Ajmer, Alwar and Mandalgarh on January 29, and the counting will take place on February 1. A total of 43 candidates are in fray in these elections. In Ajmer, 23 people are contesting — a highest which made the election body to install additional EVMs across polling stations. 

While there are no namesake candidates in Ajmer and Mandalgarh seats, Alwar has two candidates with the same name — BJP candidate Jaswant Singh Yadav and Jaswant Singh, who is an independent candidate. 

It is for this that the election department decided to introduce photographs along with names of candidates on EVM machines. This is the first time that this procedure will be taken in any Lok Sabha elections.

“The arrangement is made to make sure there are no confusion on candidates with similar names contesting in the elections. Under the new system, a 2.5 cm size photograph of the candidate will be displayed on the EVM. The name of the candidate will be followed by photograph and symbol in the slot of EVM machine,” Rajasthan Chief Election Officer Ashwani Bhagat said. The space for photograph will be left blank for NOTA option.

The officer said that ballot papers meant for service voters will also have photographs of candidates along with their name in both English and Hindi.  

Notably, 11,580 service voters have been registered by the election department who are deployed in armed forces across the country away from native place. 

Across all the three seats, a total of more than 39 lakh voters will be exercising their franchise during the Rajasthan bypoll.

Why the move

The move is initiated by the state election department so that voters do not confuse between candidates with same or similar names while casting their votes.