In order to minimise the discrepancies in electoral rolls, the Election Commission of India is contemplating roping in youths to assist booth level officers in preparing correct electoral rolls, said Navin Chawla Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), while speaking at an interactive session at the Merchants Chamber of Commerce in the city.

“We’re considering a proposal in which youths will be employed to assist booth level officers in including the names of people in electoral rolls. The move is aimed at including the younger people into the electoral process as well as preparing an error-free electoral roll,” said Chawla.

At a time when instances of violation of the Model Code of Conduct are on the rise in the state with no action taken against any political leader, Chawla said, “Several cases of violating the code of conduct are pending with the courts. After the elections are over, we have nothing to do with them.”

During the Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission had received around 20,000 complaints of the violation of the Model Code from West Bengal alone.

No decision has been taken on any case of violation till date.

On the functioning of electronic voting machines (EVMs), the Chawla said the Election Commission is satisfied with their performance and no allegation made by the political parties have been substantiated.

“The EVMs contain one-time programmed micro-chips. Several attempts have already been made to tamper with these, but nothing has come of it so far. He even claimed that in the recently-concluded Assembly elections in Maharashtra only three EVMs in 89,000 booths had malfunctioned,” said Chawla.

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