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Election Commission to buy 30,000 ballot boxes
The Election Commission is preparing to purchase 30,000 ballot boxes after failing to acquire them from friendly countries and aid agencies.The Election Commission is preparing to purchase 30,000 ballot boxes after failing to acquire them from friendly countries and aid agencies.
The EC had approached Japan and the United Nations Development Programme for the ballot boxes but they failed to provide them due to time constraints. In the Constituent Assembly elections, Japan had provided logistics to the election authority.
The election body on March 1 issued a notice calling suppliers to deliver ballot boxes made of plastic, and 900,000 green seals and 100,000 white seals for them.
Seeking to purchase these materials at a fast pace, the EC has asked potential suppliers to submit proposals with prices by March 6.
“The selected bidder will have to deliver the ballot boxes and other goods by April 1,” said an EC official. Of the 85,000 ballot boxes in need, the EC has 65,000 at its disposal.
A few days ago, at least three manufacturers including A Daga Steel and Industrial Corporation of India had approached the poll authority with interest to supply the ballot boxes.
The EC plans to acquire new ballot boxes with the capacity of 80 litres. The existing ballot boxes have the capacity of 40 litres. “As the ballot papers are going to be larger, we need bigger ballot boxes,” said the official.