[Reader-list] MNIC: Parliament Questions - 3

[Taha Mehmood]

http://164.100.47.132/psearch/QResult13.aspx?qref=6394

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF  	LAW , JUSTICE AND COMPANY AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED 	 QUESTION NO  	556
ANSWERED ON   	28.02.2000
USE OF ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES AND PHOTO IDENTITY CARDS
556 .	Shri M.V.CHANDRASHEKHARA MURTHY
	
SHYAMA SINGH


(a) whether the Election Commission have decided to introduce
Electronic Voting Machines and mandatory use of Photo Identity Cards
in the assembly elections;

(b) if so, the details in this regard;

(c) whether the Election Commission have completed the task of issuing
Photo Identity Cards to all the entitled citizens in the country; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefore?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF LAW, JUSTICE & COMPANY AFFAIRS (SHRI RAM JETHMALANI)


(a) to (d) : Yes, Sir. The Electronic Voting Machines were used
extensively and successfully during the previous General Elections to
the Lok Sabha and certain Legislative Assemblies, viz., Madhya
Pradesh, Rajasthan, NCT of Delhi and very recently Haryana and Orissa.
Though the production of electors` Photo-Identity Cards at the time of
voting has not been made mandatory so far, the Election Commission
insisted upon their production or any specified alternative proof of
identity during the recent elections to the Legislative Assembly of
Haryana which State has been able to provide these cards to its 86.82%
of electors. A Statement showing the status Report on progress of
issue of electors` Photo Identity Cards in different States is laid on
the Table of the House. In this connection, it may be stated that the
scheme of issue of electors` Photo Identity Cards is a continuous and
ongoing scheme and, therefore, it is practically not possible to cover
all the electors in the country under this scheme at any given point
of time.

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 556 FOR 28TH
FEBRUARY, 2000 As on 30.11.99 ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA

ALL INDIA TOTAL
604,867,664	Total Voters
376,777,932	EPIC distributed
62.29 %