Several firsts in key state

From all-women managed ‘pink booths’ to the use of third-generation electronic voting machines (EVMs), the assembly elections in the southern Indian state of Karnataka are marked by several firsts.

The country’s IT hub saw electoral authorities launched a slew of initiatives targeting a voting percentage of 75.

As the outcry about the alleged vulnerability of the EVMs to tampering grew louder, the Election Commission of India has come up with the ‘M3 EVM’ that is tamper proof and stops when an attempt is made to meddle with it.

On a pilot basis, the election commission chose five assembly constituencies in state capital Bengaluru — Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Shivajinagar, Shanthinagar, Gandhi Nagar and Rajaji Nagar.

The machine, according to sources in the office of the chief electoral officer, has features such as the display of battery status and digital certification. The machine can report any malfunction on its own, they said.

In a women-oriented step, 450 “pink booths” called ‘Sakhi’ have been set up. Sending a message of women empowerment, they are entirely managed by women — right from the returning officer to the security personnel, the sources said.

Adding a riot of colours, the EC has set up ethnic polling booths in Mysuru, Chamarajnagar and Uttar Kannada districts, where polling booths match the lifestyle of tribal masses living there. Each booth is equipped with facilities such as wheelchairs for the differently-abled to exercise their franchise easily.

First-time voters get free dosas in Bengaluru

In a bid to encourage first-time voters, an eatery here was yesterday giving away free dosas to those had voted in the Karnataka assembly election.

The eatery at Nrupathunga Road was also giving free coffee to other voters with the ink-mark on their fingers and their voters card.

Several first-time voters, aged 18-19, who comprise 1.54 million of Karnataka’s 50.6 million electorate, took selfies with ink marks on their index fingers after coming out of the polling booths.

A few hospital patients here were seen reaching the voting booths in ambulances to cast their vote, while several senior citizens across the state braved the summer heat to stand in the queues in order to vote.

Also, three to-be brides in Belagavi, Madikeri and Dharwad districts headed down to the polling stations before going to their weddings.