EVMs to Get Colored Photos: Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in India will now feature colored photos of candidates, making ballot papers easier for voters to read and recognize, starting with the Bihar Assembly elections later this year.
Clearer Ballots, Less Confusion
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that ballot papers on EVMs will now include colored photographs of each candidate.
Previously, voters had trouble identifying black-and-white photos, especially in constituencies with multiple candidates sharing similar names. With this upgrade, each candidate’s face will occupy three-fourths of the allotted space for better visibility.
Improved Readability for All
Names of candidates and the NOTA (None of the Above) option will now appear in bold letters, set at a large font size of 30, ensuring easy reading.
The serial numbers and NOTA will also be printed in the international form of Indian numerals, making them clearer for everyone.
Uniform fonts and size are being introduced so all names are equally prominent, removing any chance of confusion.
New Paper and Color Standards
To further enhance visibility and durability, ballot papers will be printed on high-quality 70 GSM paper.
For assembly elections, a pink-colored sheet with a specific RGB value will be used. This will help voters easily spot the official voting paper.
Why These Changes Matter
These steps are part of 28 recent initiatives by the Election Commission to make voting smoother and more convenient for citizens.
The colored photos and bold fonts are designed especially to help elderly voters, those with low literacy, and anyone who struggled with previous ballot formats.
What Happens Next?
The Bihar election will be the first time EVMs to Get Colored Photos upgrades are tested (Business Standard, NDTV).
Success here will lead to wider use in future elections across India (Times Now News, DD News).
Voters should expect clearer, more readable EVM ballot papers, boosting confidence and accessibility at polling booths (Hindustan Times, India TV).
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