EVMs to be used in Kashmir urban local bodies polls

Jammu and Kashmir's state administrative council (SAC) headed by Governor N.N. Vohra on Friday gave its nod to a bill amending the state municipal corporation act to ensure free and fair elections to local urban bodies by use of electronic voting machines.

"The SAC which met here today (Friday) under the chairmanship of Governor N.N. Vohra accorded sanction to the enactment of the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Act, 2016 in order to ensure conduct of free and fair elections and usher a new phase of transparency in urban local bodies elections.

"It was decided that the elections to the urban local bodies in the state would be held by using electronic voting machines (EVMs) instead of ballot papers," said an official statement.

It said the housing and urban development department was ordered to make the necessary amendment to facilitate the use of EVMs.

"This amendment in the act and consequent amendments in rules shall enable the use of EVMs in the elections to the urban local bodies including the corporations," it added.