The Maharashtra State Election Commission has ordered 50,000 electronic voting machines and signed an agreement with the Madhya Pradesh State Election Commission to rent 25,000 more. This is to prepare for the upcoming local body elections in the state.
The rented EVMs from Madhya Pradesh will cost INR 1,000 per unit. The new machines from ECIL, which will come with a memory module and battery, will cost INR 20,000 per device. Delivery is expected by October.
Officials estimate that about 1.5 lakh EVMs will be required for the entire process. Reports suggest that the 50,000 machines ordered from the Electronics Corporation of India Limited will be suitable for polling in multi-member wards. In such wards, voters must elect more than one representative. This is different from Lok Sabha and assembly polls where voters select only one candidate.
The SEC plans to conduct the polls in three phases after Diwali:
Sources also suggest that the counting of votes might also take place in phases. This would allow machines from the first phase to be used in later phases. A final decision on this will be taken after consultations with political parties.
The SEC expects ward formation for district councils and panchayat samitis to be completed by August 25. For municipal corporations, nagar panchayats, and municipal councils, the deadline is October 13. The final voter list and reservation draws will be completed within 15 days after ward formation. Elections can be held about 45 days after this is finished.