I understand voting machines will not be used for Panchayat elections and counting will be manual. This can been used to find out who voted for whom! At previous such elections I have objected in writing to the same number on the counterfoil I sign and the ballot paper; to the election booth officer and followed it up with the SEC to no avail. I was told that the number is to ensure no bogus ballot papers are filled in. In the Rajya Sabha polls which the CBI is investigating due huge cash hauls leading to manipulation by MLAs, the ballot papers have the same number,but are scratch numbers ie can be seen only after scratching the number!I have visited the SEC at altinho and given a letter asking them to please tell public how secrecy of ballot is ensured during and after counting. Authorities have been able to get a list of who voted forn whom and noting/harassing those individuals etc This is an important election and dangerous and critical days! Citizens must be explained about a foolproof system in use to ensure complete secrecy of ballot.
