The Society for Free Elections has written to the EC saying observer status would allow them to suggest measures to enhance the credibility of the EVMs, being introduced in 712 polling stations in five Assembly constituencies in Delhi in the upcoming polls on Novemebr 25.

The society, formed on November 16, aims to further the cause of free and fair elections, campaign against electoral malpractices, curb money power in elections and to work towards modernisation of the electoral process.

In the run up to the Novemebr 25 polls, the society plans to create media awareness about the efficacy of EVMs and about the usefulness of these machines in curbing electoral malpractices.

Among the founder members of the society are KishoreChandra Deo, Rajya Sabha MP, and Era Sezhiyan, former MP, both members of the Dinesh Goswami Committee on Electoral Reforms. It also includes P V Indiresan, a former director of IIT, Chennai and a member of the Technical Sub-committee of the Dinesh Goswami Committee which went into the question of tamperability of EVMs.

Welcoming the EC's decision to introduce EVMs for the conduct of the polls and for the counting of votes, the Society hoped the scope of using EVMs would be expanded to cover all elections, including panchayat-level polls.

A statement by Justice Venkatachaliah also recommended that the government urgently introduce multi-purpose identity cards to all Indian citizens for identification purposes for matters like citizenship, voting, registration of property and vehicles among others.