TNN

Bangalore, May 10: The Election Commission warned bogus voters that they could face imprisonment. Chief electoral officer (CEO) M N Vidyashankar told reporters here on Friday that the punishment for bogus voters would range from a fine to one year imprisonment or both.

Having received several complaints on possibilities of bogus voting during the first phase of elections on Saturday, the CEO is fully geared up to tackle the menace. "The EC will not hesitate to file criminal cases and send bogus voters to jail," Vidyashankar warned.

Installation of video cameras or still photography in polling booths, strict vigil by village-level accountants and micro observers are other measures taken by the CEO. Jail penalty for bogus voters will be imposed by invoking IPC section 171-D.

Similarly, the CEO constituted sector magistrate squads to handle election-related complaints. The squad consisting of 20 people will respond to complaints within 15 minutes in the constituency. However, the complaint must be poll-related and not regarding electoral rolls.

Spare EVMs

Four constituencies - Padmanabhanagar, Rajajinagar, Mulbagal and Madhugiri - of the 89 going to the polls on Saturday have more than 16 contestants. An Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) can take only 16 names.

In the segments where there are more than 16 contestants, two EVMs will be placed. Mulbagal has registered maximum number of candidates - 29 candidates are in the fray. Nearly 1.73 crore people will exercise their franchise in the first phase.

In case of EVMs malfunctioning, Vidyashankar noted that two BEL technicians, manufacturers of EVMs, will be present at each assembly segment.

Besides, the sector magistrate squad will have a spare EVM for each segment. The presiding officer will have to enter the remarks in case a voter declines to exercise his franchise after signing the ballot paper is registered and the indelible ink applied.