Karnataka SEC ready to use ballot paper for civic polls

STATE Election Commission (SEC) chief G S Sangreshi has said reverting to ballot papers for local body elections should not be seen as a regressive step, terming it one of the best practices in a democracy.

- DEVARAJ B HIREHALLI @ Bengaluru

"Conducting polls through ballots is not very challenging and cannot be dismissed simply because it takes more time. Don't Gram Panchayat polls take place through ballots? Counting may take an extra two to three hours, but ballots remain one of the best democratic practices. What is wrong with the method when it was used just two decades ago and continues to be followed in developed countries, including the US?" Sangreshi told The New Sunday Express on Saturday.

He added that the Constitution does not mandate the use of either ballots or EVMs, leaving the choice to election commissions. "If the government amends the necessary Acts and provides staff and funds, the SEC is prepared to switch back to ballots," he said.