EC mulling VVPAT use in Assam polls

There are 24,888 polling stations in the State. The EC will be sending around 31,000 EVMs.

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Jan 31: The Election Commission is likely to use the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) in the upcoming Assam assembly elections.

Sources said the EC is contemplating using the VVPAT system in 3,200 polling stations in urban areas, though a fil decision in this regard is yet to be taken.

In the system, an EVM will have a small attachment to it which after pressing the button for a desired candidate, will display that me. The system will eble a voter to get the proof that his vote has gone to the candidate of his choice against the right symbol.

The system has been introduced newly in the country to avoid disputes regarding the voting system.

The EC had contemplated using the VVPAT system in the State in the last Lok Sabha elections, but dropped the plan later. The system has been used in other states on experimental basis.

Sources said the Election Commission has already started dispatching EVMs to the State. The EVMs, manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited post-2006, have been brought from UP, Delhi and Bihar.

The first level of testing has been conducted in 80 per cent of the EVMs that have reached the State. The second round of checking will be conducted just on the eve of polling, while a mock poll will be held in presence of polling agents before the actual start of voting on polling day.

There are 24,888 polling stations in the State. The EC will be sending around 31,000 EVMs.

The State government has already earmarked a budget of Rs 100 crore for holding the assembly elections.