IMPHAL, March 7 : For the first time, the state of Manipur will be using Photo Electoral Rolls in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections due for April 16.
A press note of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), government of India informed that the entire country will be using the photo electoral rolls for the first time in the forthcoming general election except for three states of Asom, Nagaland and Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the press note, 82 per cent of electors in the country have been issued Photo Identity Cards by the election commission with over 90 percent electors being issued voters card with photographs in 14 states and 90 percent electors having their photographs printed in the electoral rolls in 13 states.
The PIB note also informed that the photo electoral rolls have been tried and tested and held that this would facilitate easy identification and prevent impersonation.
The press note of the PIB also showed Manipur has 87.39 percent of photo electoral rolls which is by way higher that the average of the country which stands at 82 percent.
Meanwhile, the PIB also informed that the President of India has appointed Navin B Chawla as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) in the election commission of India and that he would take charge of the post with effect from April 21, 2009.
N Gopalaswami, the existing CEC will vacant the post after attaining the age of 65 years on April 20, 2009, the PIB informed.