Bhopal, 5 October(Wishav Warta): The Election Commission on Wednesday launched a web-based application, Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) network, aimed at efficient conduct of elections and said it would be “logistically equipped” by September 2018 to hold simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha and assemblies.
The announcement by the poll panel came days after it issued a formal direction that VVPAT or paper trail machines will be used at polling stations in all future elections where polls are held using EVMs.
“The Election Commission was asked by the Centre as what it would require for becoming capable of holding the parliamentary and assembly polls together.
“In response, the EC had asked for funds to purchase new EVMs and VVPAT machines. The commission would be logistically equipped by September, 2018, to hold parliamentary and assembly polls together,” Election Commissioner O P Rawat told a press conference.
At the presser, the poll watchdog unveiled the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) network. Rawat said the commission has already placed the order for the purchase of new EVMs and VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) machines after receiving funds from the Centre.
He said the poll body would get 40 lakh VVPAT machines by September 2018. VVPAT is a machine which dispenses a slip with the symbol of the party for which a person has voted for. The slip drops in a box but the voter cannot take it home. It has only been used on trial basis in some places.