The Election Commission (EC) has projected the need for 800 additional warehouses across the country to store EVMs and other equipment in case simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies are held.

The poll body has described the construction of warehouses as a “laborious process” entailing cost. The cost of the land and construction is borne by the respective state governments.

In March 2023, the EC shared its views on various aspects of holding simultaneous elections with the Law Commission and the Department of Legal Affairs in the Union Law Ministry.

Its views on the issue now form part of the documents shared with the members of the joint committee of Parliament examining the two bills that establish the mechanism for holding simultaneous polls in the country.

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“In case of simultaneous elections, for safe and secure storage of EVMs/VVPATs, there will be a requirement of about 800 additional warehouses…,” the EC has said.

EVM security measures

It has been noted that enforcing safety and security features in all the warehouses—deployment of security personnel, monthly and quarterly inspections, systems like fire alarms and CCTV cameras—will require an additional financial outlay “and is fraught with administrative difficulties also”.

However, the poll panel has also noted that “this challenge can be dealt with” if adequate lead time is provided to it and the respective state governments prioritise these requirements.

There are around 772 districts in the country.

In July 2012, the EC initiated the construction of “dedicated warehouses” in each district to store electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter-verifiable paper audit trail machines (VVPATs).

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“It was identified that 326 districts require construction of new warehouses. As on date — March 2023 — the construction of 194 warehouses has been completed, 106 warehouses are under construction, for 13 warehouses, land has been identified and sanctioned but they are not grounded and for 13 warehouses, land has not been allotted so far,” it had told the law panel.