EVM Demand Rejected: Punjab Civic Body Elections Will Be Conducted Through Ballot Papers

Municipal corporation and council elections in Punjab will now be conducted through ballot papers after the Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed three petitions challenging the decision of the State Election Commission. The ruling has cleared the way for the elections to proceed as scheduled on May 26. The petitions had sought directions for conducting the civic body elections using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) instead of ballot papers. Opposition parties had also approached the State Election Commission, demanding that the elections be held through EVMs. During the court proceedings, the Election Commission of India informed the bench that EVMs had already been dispatched from Rajasthan to Punjab and were expected to arrive in the state. On Friday, the Commission further stated before the court that nearly 6,000 EVM machines from Rajasthan had reached Ambala. The Election Commission argued that the machines could be prepared for use within one or two days. However, the State Election Commission informed the court that, according to the manual issued by the Election Commission of India, the preparation and operational process for EVMs requires more time. The bench headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu observed that the election schedule had already been notified by the State Election Commission and the election process was already underway. The court stated that interference at this stage, on the basis of delay, was not possible. With the dismissal of all three petitions, it has now been confirmed that the Punjab municipal corporation and council elections will be conducted through ballot papers only.