Thane polls to see first-ever use of geographic information system

The upcoming Thane municipal elections and the run-up to the polls will see the use of the geographic information system (GIS), for the first time in the country, claims the civic body. The electronic voting technique will also be used on trial basis.

The upcoming Thane municipal elections and the run-up to the polls will see the use of the geographic information system (GIS), for the first time in the country, claims the civic body. The electronic voting technique will also be used on trial basis.

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"We will be able to monitor the situation at each polling booth, in each ward, from the election headquarters, using the GIS and the global positioning system," said RA Rajeev, municipal commissioner. The lots for ward reservations were drawn on Monday, in the presence of state election commissioner Neela Satyanarayan.

"The GPS and GIS systems will enable the presiding officer at each booth to send voter turnout figures through a mobile phone, to the chief election officer. This will show us results in real time, and through a paper-less system," Rajeev said.

With these systems, the corporation hopes to declare the result on the day of voting itself.

In addition, the e-voting facility will be tested at two wards in Thane.