New Delhi, 17 September (IANS) Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued new instructions standardizing the design and printing of voting letters used in electronic voting machines (EVMs) for both parliamentary and assembly elections.
The purpose of this step is to ensure more clarity, uniformity and transparency in the voting process.
According to the circular sent to all the Chief Electoral Officers on Wednesday, the revised criteria have been covered for format, language, photos, font size, paper color and printing process of ballot. The Commission has made it mandatory that details of elections – which include the name, year and type of election constituency – will now be printed in English only at the center of the ballot.
The serial number of the paper will appear on the top left corner, while the sheet number will be on the top right if more than one sheet is required due to more candidates.
“Names of competition candidates including NOTA option will be printed in the same language or languages in which the list of candidates contesting has been prepared. The CEO/UT CEO of the state will select the suitable font type for printing the names of candidates in the states.
The name of the candidate with the NOTA option should be printed in the same language (s), such as in the official list of candidates, with the same font type and size.
Each candidate’s panel will feature serial numbers (in international Indian marks), colored picture of name, size 2 cm x 2.5 cm and election symbol.
“The candidate’s serial number will be indicated internationally of Indian marks. The font size of the candidate/NOTA will be printed in 30 and bold,” said this.
“The picture of the candidates will be printed in color (until the candidate has not only provided black and white picture). The candidate’s face should capture the three-fourth place in the picture,” noted it.
For ballot paper color, white sheets will be used in parliamentary elections and pink sheets for assembly elections.
ECI has also standardized the GSM 70 and specified the RGB code for pink paper to maintain continuity.
Guidelines ban the maximum 15 candidates on the same sheet, in which the NOTA option is placed after the final candidate.
If less than 16 names are listed, the location below will remain vacant.
Printing will be preferably done in government or semi-government presses, although private presses may be held under strict security measures if necessary.
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