However, Patel also admitted that it is not an easy task for the administration to implement compulsory voting since the state Election Commission raised various concerns during today's meeting.
Briefing reporters about the development, Patel said that the number of electronic voting machines to be used during local body polls would have to be increased significantly to cope with the higher voter turnout.
Similarly, the Election Commission also expressed concerns about the time available for each voter to cast vote, since the number of candidates per ward in each municipal corporation has increased from three to four, Patel said.
According to him, voter turnout could rise to almost 90 per cent, while it generally remains at around 70 per cent during local body polls. In addition, each voter would have to be given more time to choose four representatives per ward as against three in the past, he said.
"Keeping in mind high voter turnout of almost 90 per cent, we have to increase the total number of booths to accomodate additional voters. We also have to keep in mind that candidates per ward is now four, and not three. These were some of concerns raised by the EC," Patel said.