EC to spend Rs 75 crore to ensure smooth functioning of Assembly elections

In view to facilitate smooth functioning of upcoming Rajasthan Assembly polls, the Election Commission will spend Rs 75 crore to provide polling facilities to over 4.06 crore voters.

The EC will spend a sum of Rs 75 crore to provide the best polling facilities, including good quality EVM machines, to over 4.06 crore voters, which comes out to be an investment of Rs 20 per voter, an official said.

Comparatively, in the 2008 elections, EC had spent a sum of Rs 55.6 crore with a share of Rs 15.34 per voter, an adviser in the Chief Election Office (CEO) said on Tuesday, adding that there were about 3.62 crore voters then.  This year in Assembly polls, the CEO has a target to spend Rs 75 crore on various works including Travelling Allowance and Dearness Allowance payment to employees on election duties, EVMs transportation, voter ID cards, petrol and vehicles, and police arrangements, he said.

The expenditure budget has been gradually increasing since 1993 when the voters were about 2.8 crore and the total money spent was about Rs 17.1 crore with a share of Rs.6.06 per voter, he added. This time EC has planned expenditures on various kind of publicity including banners, posters at public places to draw voters to polling booths on December one, he said.

Altogether 47,221 polling booths would be set up with 65,334 EVMs in 200 constituencies going for polls in December. Of the 4.06 voters, 99.48 per cent electorates have received Voter ID cards.

"EC wants the maximum voter turn out in the forthcoming polls and conduct the polls in a free and fair manner by keeping an eye on paid news," the official said.  Earlier on Tuesday, EC announced the election notification for filing of nomination papers by contestants in 200 Assembly constituencies in the state.

Nomination papers by contestants are being accepted at 200 Returning Offices in 33 districts of the state every day from 11 am to 3 pm. The last date of filing of the papers will be November 12, scrutiny of papers will take place on November 13, and they can be withdrawn by November 16.  The counting of votes will take place on December 8.