Gujarat elections will be held in December, EVM VVPATs to be used: EC

Exact dates yet to be finalised; Election Commission says EVM VVPATs will be used across all 50,128 polling stations

While it is yet to fix a date or decide on whether to conduct it in a phased manner, the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday said that the state assembly polls in Gujarat will be held in December.

On a visit to Gujarat for a review of the election preparedness ahead of the polls, the EC team led by chief election commissioner A K Joti said that EVM VVPATs will be used across all 50,128 polling stations.

VVPAT enables a voter to see the name of the candidate and the symbol of the candidate on paper to whom he has cast his vote.

The elections this year will be held across 50,128 polling stations at 28639 polling locations for 182 assembly constituencies of state, with already 43.3 million voters having registered till September this year, EC stated on Tuesday.

During the visit, the commission not only met various political parties to understand their issues and concerns, but also reviewed work of DMs, SPs, Police Commissioners, DIGs/IGs and discussed issues with Chief secretary, Home secretary, DGP and other senior officers of the State Government. EC also discussed strategy with various enforcement agencies.

"Political parties welcomed the introduction of VVPAT in all polling stations during forthcoming elections. Parties requested that after introduction of VVPATs, the time frame of voting should be rationalised to achieve maximum voting. Parties emphasised the need to publicise the concept and functioning of VVPAT and proper lighting arrangements be made in all the polling booths," the commission stated.

Of the total 43.3 million registered voters as on September 25, 2017, 51.96 per cent or 22.5 million are male and 47.80 per cent or 20.7 million are female voters.