Biometric ID for 2019 LS polls in Chandigarh

The Election Department is planning to conduct elections in the Union Territory of Chandigarh based on biometric ID in some booths on an experimental basis in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

In this, the voter identity card of the Election Commission will be used with the Aadhaar card fpr the elections. Officials said preparation for this is in the final stages in the city.

Sources said the purchase of biometric machines has been done for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Sources indicated that it will be used for polling in 10-15 Polling booths. It will be used in some sectors as well as rural Polling booths on an experimental basis.

If the experiment succeeds, then biometric system will be implemented in other subsequent elections and all over the city. According to election officials, use pf biometric system will completely eliminate duplication in the elections.

On behalf of the Election Office, 700 VVPAT (Voter Variable Paper Audit Trial) machines also have been sought. Its specialty is that after voting, the machine will display the voting by him on screen and the paper will fall automatically in the container inside the machine. With this, the voter will know that there is no manipulation in the voting machine. If the voter feels that there is any manipulation, he or she can make a complaint to the election officer on the spot and ensure that the vote has been cast properly.

Joint Chief Electoral Officer Arjun Sharma said that a proposal has been prepared regarding the biometric election process in which it can be used at some polling booths. This will be now sent to the Election Commission of India for final approval.