NEW DELHI – In a significant move aimed at making the voting process more voter-friendly and transparent, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced a revision of the guidelines for designing and printing EVM ballot papers. The new, upgraded ballot papers, which will be rolled out for the first time in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, will feature color photographs of candidates.
According to a press release from the ECI, the changes are part of a series of 28 initiatives undertaken in the past six months to streamline election processes. These EVM ballots serve as text-and-visual guides, providing details about candidates as a reference, while votes are still cast using buttons on the electronic voting machines (EVM).
The candidate’s face will occupy three-fourths of the photo space for better visibility, it said. The commission also said that the names of all candidates, including NOTA, will be printed in the same font type and size, large enough for easy readability. “The font size will be 30 and in bold for clarity.” Also, the paper used will be of relatively higher thickness, at 70. For assembly elections, specific pink-coloured paper shall be used.
These changes are expected to significantly reduce confusion at polling booths, especially in constituencies with multiple candidates having similar names. By making the ballot papers clearer and more standardized, the EC is taking a proactive step to enhance voter confidence and ensure the integrity of the electoral process, starting with the crucial Bihar polls. Sources
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