EVMs to display photo of candidates in Kerala

Kochi: Voters who still cannot find their names in the voters list after the special intensive revision (SIR) in Kerala can enrol until the last date for filing nominations for the upcoming assembly elections.Clarifying this at a news conference in Kochi, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar said they must submit Form 6 along with the relevant documents. Any complaints regarding wrong inclusion can also be challenged by submitting a Form 7 application."We are very clear no eligible voter should be excluded and no ineligible person should be included," the CEC said, adding that Kerala taught democratic practices to many parts of the country.For the first time in Kerala, electronic voting machines (EVMs) will display photographs of the candidates to help voters easily identify their choice. Voter information slips will also be distributed, the CEC said.The upcoming assembly elections would be a global model, and he expressed hope that voters would actively participate in the "festival of democracy".Kumar said Kerala is a state that made pioneering contributions to democracy, including the establishment of the first code of conduct in 1960, which later evolved into the Model Code of Conduct for the country, and the pilot use of electronic voting machines in the Paravoor assembly constituency in 1982.Recalling his association with Kerala, he said the state was his ‘karmabhumi' for 18 years and recalled his days as Ernakulam district collector.He also urged political parties and the public to make use of the CVIGIL mobile application to report violations of the MCC, assuring that action would be taken immediately. The CEC said mobile phones can be carried up to the entrance of polling stations, and deposit facilities will be arranged. "Voters should download ECINET to get updates on the Commission's activities. ECINET integrates more than 40 applications and will provide real-time election data for stakeholders."There will be 30,471 polling stations across the state, including around 5,000 new ones, and 100%webcasting will be ensured. No polling station will have more than 1,200 electors. A total of 397 polling stations will be managed entirely by women, and over 790 model polling stations will be set up. More than 2 lakh senior citizens aged above 85 years, including 1,571 centenarians, will be eligible to vote from home. He also noted that over 49 lakh young voters between 18 and 29 are on the electoral rolls.Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, and Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala, Rathan U Kelkar, were also present. Earlier, the ECs interacted with the booth-level officers and other officials.