Raj civic polls: Re-Polling ordered at 10 polling stations in Jaipur, Kota and Suket
Jaipur, Sep 15 (IANS) The Rajasthan State Election Commission on Tuesday ordered re-polling at 10 polling stations across Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota and Suket after technical malfunctions in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were detected during the counting process for the recent civic body polls in the state.
The re-poll has been ordered after the Commission found that the number of votes not recorded due to the technical glitches was greater than the margin separating the leading candidate from the runner-up at the affected polling stations.
Re-polling will be conducted on Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with counting of the fresh votes scheduled for September 17 from 8 a.m. at the designated counting centres.
The State Election Commission has identified the following polling stations for re-polling: Jaipur Municipal Corporation: Ward 9, Booth 111; Ward 18, Booth 235; Ward 25, Booth 343; Ward 34, Booths 477 and 484. Jodhpur Municipal Corporation: Ward 50, Booth 338. Kota Municipal Corporation: Ward 87, Booth 99; Ward 44, Booth 448; Ward 11, Booth 576. Suket Municipality: Ward 4, Booth 5.
The Commission said complaints regarding EVM malfunctions were received during the counting process.
Reports submitted by the concerned District Election Officers and Returning Officers were subsequently examined.
Following the assessment, the Commission concluded that the votes affected by the technical problems could potentially alter the poll outcome in the concerned political contests.
Since the number of unrecorded votes exceeded the victory margin, the Commission decided that a fresh poll was necessary.
Voting at the affected polling stations will take place on Wednesday between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
The counting of votes cast during the re-poll will be conducted on Thursday from 8 a.m. at the designated locations.
The Commission has directed election officials to inform all contesting candidates and their election agents in writing about the re-poll date, timing and polling station.
Public announcements and notices will also be issued to ensure that eligible voters are aware of the revised polling arrangements.
Notices will be displayed at the concerned municipality offices, polling stations and other prominent locations within the respective constituencies.
The Commission has clarified that only voters who were authorised to vote in the original poll will be permitted to participate in the re-poll.
The indelible ink mark applied during the original polling will not be considered for the purpose of the re-poll.
A fresh indelible ink mark will be applied to the middle finger of the left hand, extending from the base of the nail to the first joint.
The Commission has also directed that fresh ballot papers and tendered ballot papers, wherever required for use alongside the EVM process, be prepared.
Following the re-poll, the EVMs used during the original polling will be sealed and kept in safe custody, as directed by the State Election Commission.
The Commission has instructed all concerned officials to complete the necessary logistical, security and administrative arrangements in advance to ensure that the re-poll is conducted smoothly and in accordance with the prescribed procedures.
With the re-poll scheduled just a day after the Commission’s order, the results from these 10 polling stations could prove significant in determining the final outcome of the affected ward contests.
–IANS
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