Expert committee to decide on EVMs, says Quraishi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Chief Election Commissioner, SY Quraishi, has said a five-member expert panel would discuss, study and analyse complaints about electronic voting machines (EVMs) and that the Commission would decide after the reports are assessed.

He said that the expert panel met the representatives of several political parties on December 23 and heard their views.

“We had a meeting of all political parties on October 4. They all said that electronic voting machines (EVMs) is fine,” Quraishi told reporters here on Wednesday.

“There can be a print out which shows that I have voted for this symbol and this symbol actually got vote. So, the suggestion of our political parties was that we refer it to a technical committee of experts,” he added.

The Chief Election Commissioner further said the decision on EVMs would be declared prior to the ensuing elections to the legislatures in a couple of states.

“That committee had a meeting on December 23, where all political parties were invited to make their suggestion and also all technical people who had been raising issues about this, they were also invited. So, whole daylong these people made their presentation to the technical committee and the committee is examining those recommendations,” said Quraishi.

“Their recommendations will be put up to the Election Commission and then we will take a view what next is to be done. Till then, otherwise electronic voting machines have worked very well. It has served very well. The preparation of new voters list is in progress,” he noted. (ANI)