Latest EVMs to be introduced in seven Assembly constituencies

Bengaluru, 26 Apr 2018 [Fik/News Sources]: The Election Commission is set to introduce latest M-3 electronic voting machines (EVMs) in seven Assembly constituencies in Bengaluru Central. This is the first time the Election Commission introducing the latest EVMs in the country.

As many as 2,710 balloting units, 2,260 control units in the latest M-3 and 2,350 VVPATs will be deployed across Rajarajeshwarinagar, Shivajinagar, Shanthinagar, Gandhinagar, Rajajinagar, Chamarajpet and Chickpet constituencies.

“The M-3 machines will be deployed across India for the 2019 general elections. Bengaluru constituencies will become the first to use it as part of a pilot project,” Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar media persons here on Wednesday.

The CEO said the M-3 EVMs have arrived and first-level checks have been conducted already.

When asked why Bengaluru was chosen for the pilot project, he said, “Bengaluru is the IT city and the latest EVMs are manufactured here (by BEL). Also, it is easy to supervise since the machines are being used for the first time.” While most things between the currently used M-2 EVMs and the latest are similar, he said M-3 will be lighter and sleek. “In the current M-2 machines, 4 balloting units (to accommodate 64 candidates) could be connected whereas in M-3, 24 balloting units (to accommodate 384 candidates) can be connected.”