EVMs to have candidates' photos

DHNS

January 23, 2018

Bengaluru, Jan 23: In a move that could go a long way in preventing bogus candidates from playing mischief, the Election Commission of India (ECI) will use photographs of candidates on the electronic voting machines (EVM) during the upcoming Assembly elections.

It will be the first Legislative Assembly polls in Karnataka where this will be implemented.

Besides helping voters recognise their candidate from among those with similar names, the move will also help raise voter confidence amid concerns aired by the ruling Congress that the EVMs are prone to tampering.

Each EVM will have the names of candidates, their black-and-white photographs and the symbol of the party they represent. Each photograph will be 2.5 cm in size.

"Photographs of candidates were used on the EVMs in the recent Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh polls. Photographs will be used in the upcoming bypolls in Rajasthan. In fact, we had candidates' photographs for the Nanjangud and Gundlupet bypolls last year," Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar said.

Candidates' names will be classified under three categories. "Names will be listed alphabetically starting with those from national parties, followed by those from regional parties and then the independents or other parties," he said.

Use of photographs coupled with alphabetical listing of candidate names will further negate claims that EVMs can be tampered with. "For an EVM to be rigged so as to favour a particular candidate, how will anyone know whose name is listed where?" Kumar asked.

The 2018 Assembly election will see the introduction of voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines, which will allow voters to verify the votes they have cast. The Election Commission will also tally votes cast on the EVM with the VVPAT printouts in one polling booth selected randomly under each Assembly constituency.

Comments

Why don't Election Commissioner use separate EVM for each candidate

EVM will only beenifit for counting and earliest results. It will not stop manipulating and illigal set for any particular groups. Providing candidates photo in EVM system is type of bluff and to divert mind.

To avoid corrupt and criminal politiciance benifit - Ballot is the perfect BULLET.

For our nations benifit INDIA badly require Ballot polling system for ever.

Jai Hind !

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QR-code tips power Mangaluru's major drug bust: 25 arrested in 2 weeks

News Network

December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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