J'khand's civic polls on paper ballot, as no EVMs come from neighbours

FOR the first time, municipal elections in Jharkhand will be conducted using ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines (EVMs), following a decision by the State Election Commission (SEC).

- MUKESH RANJAN @Ranchi

Since their introduction in 2013, EVMs have been used in the state's municipal elections.

According to the SEC, the decision was taken due to the insufficient availability of EVMs in the state. Jharkhand does not possess the required number of machines and depends on other states, which have expressed their inability to provide them. The company manufacturing EVMs has informed the state authorities that it would need at least one year to supply new machines.