Voter Paper Audit at 4K Booths for Polls

CHENNAI: The Voter’s Verifiable Paper Audit Trial System (VVPAT)  which made its debut in Chennai Central Parliamentary constituency during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, will be in place in 4,000 booths across Tamil Nadu during the ensuing Assembly constituencies.

“The Election Commission has directed to keep this VVPAT system in 4,000 booths spread in 12 to 15 constituencies mainly in district headquarters and in some other places”, Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni told mediapersons.

Using this facility, the voter would be able to see a printout  of the symbol of the candidate to whom he has voted would be printed by the machine and this would be visible through a glass window.   The printout of the image would be retained in the machine. Training to Master trainers to handle VVPAT Systems would be given in advance.Subsequently,  Master Trainers would train polling staff pertaining to the constituency concerned.

In a ruling in October 2013, the Supreme Court, in the case filed by Subramanian Swamy seeking a direction to the poll watchdog to ensure EVMs have a paper trail and issue a receipt to each voter. The SC held that VVPAT is indispensable for free and fair elections and thus, directed the EC to introduce a paper trail in EVMs, in a phased manner, saying it would ensure free and fair elections. In the first phase, the system was used in the elections in Nagaland, Delhi and later on in many other places.

CEC VISIT TO TN: Chief Election Commissioner Nazim Zaidi is likely to visit Tamil Nadu in the second week of February to review the ongoing arrangements for the Assembly elections. Meanwhile, the DMK has lodged a complaint with the CEO alleging that there were large number bogus voters in the final electoral rolls released last week.

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