Bhubaneswar, The State Election Commission (SEC) on Saturday fixed the colour of Ballot Papers to be used during upcoming general election to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
“In exercise of powers vested in it under Article 243 ZA of the Constitution, the Commission directs that the colour of Ballot Papers for the Corporators/Councilor will be Pink and Mayor/Chairperson will be Yellow,” SEC Secretary RN Sahu said in an order.
The SEC has already notified that all elections to the office of Mayors/Chairpersons & Corporators/Councilors will be held by using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) supplied by the Commission.
Two EVMs will be used in each booth for elections to Councillor/Chairperson in case of Municipalities/NACs and Corporator/Mayor in case of Municipal Corporations, Sahu said.
So, the Ballot Papers will be pasted in the Ballot Unit of the EVM as well as will be used for the purpose of Election Duty Certificate (EDC) and Tendered Vote.
Therefore, the Commission has decided to use the two colours of Ballot Papers to be used in the elections to Municipalities/NACs as well as Municipal Corporations.
The State Election Commission has also decided to provide NOTA (None of the above) option to the voters in the upcoming urban polls in the State.
The Commission is taking all steps to conduct the urban election soon after the Panchayat Polls. The delimitation of wards, reservation seats and all other formalities required to conduct the ULB election has already been completed. The Commission has also started distribution of EVMs to the districts for the poll.