SHILLONG: As part of the process of introduction of (VVPAT) in the state during the next Assembly election , state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Frederick Kharkongor said that 110 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs) will be used exclusively for raising awareness.
Stating that there should be various demonstration centers, he requested the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills, PS Dkhar, to set up a full-fledged demonstration center here so that citizens can get exposure to the functioning of the VVPAT.
He was speaking at the state-level training and awareness campaign on Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) was held at conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) Office, East Khasi Hills on Monday.
The training programme highlighted on the preparedness for elections and for the Returning Officer (RO) to have a better understanding and usage of VVPAT for the public in general.
“The Election Commission has already sent 110 VVPATs to the state. A brief break- up is here — 25 numbers with the DC Shillong, 10 numbers under DC Jowai which includes awareness for the sub-division of Amlarem, at Khliehriat (East Jaintia Hills)- 5 numbers, Nongpoh (Ri-Bhoi) – 10, Nongstoin (West Khasi Hills)- 9, Mawkyrwat (South West Khasi Hills)- 5,” he said.
In Garo Hills, he said, that there were 8 numbers at Resubelpara (North Garo Hill), 20 at Tura (West Garo Hill) while 6 each at Williamnagar (East Garo Hills), Ampati (South West Garo Hills) and Baghmara (South Garo Hills).
He added that the 25 number of VVPAT earmarked under East Khasi Hills also covers Sohra.
With the introduction of VVPAT in the electoral process, he said, that there would be five polling officers and one of the polling officers will be looking exclusively after the VVPAT.
Penalties involved
However, despite the verification of the candidates, Kharkongor emphasized that it is not a frivolous right and anyone who has a doubt has to apply in writing if there is no proper recording (of the vote).
“If found that the claim (of no proper recording of their vote) is correct, then the procedure will follow in which the presiding officer will take appropriate steps. However, if the claim is found to be frivolous then there are certain penalties,” he said.
“His name will be recorded in the register of votes. He has to sign and certain penalties that will follow,” he added, adding that the claims need to be exercise with a great deal of caution.
VVPAT campaign
Kharkongor informed that there are 3082 polling stations in the state and the election department would roll out a very extensive and exhaustive campaign on raising awareness on VVPAT.
VVPAT is an addition to the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) family which will make the election process more robust and transparent, election officials said.
From Morphran to Jowai, the Election department has launched a series of street theaters in the Khasi- Jaintia region in certain market places which will inform the voters on ethical voting and VVPAT.
Speaking on the VVPAT, Kharkongor said that intensive publicity was indispensable to encourage voters to see the printed slip which would appear for only 7 seconds which will help them verify that their vote has been recorded and has gone to the candidate of their choice.
Technical aspects
Highlighting on the technical aspect of VVPAT, Additional Chief Election Officer (CEO), T. Lyngwa, said that the VVPAT uses thermal paper-roll that cannot print more than 1500 slips and hence the number of voters in each polling station should not be more than 1400.
Following the normal routine of pressing the button on the EVM against the chosen candidate, in addition, the VVPAT prints a slip that will display the name, serial number and election symbol of the candidate through a transparent window of the VVPAT, allowing the voters to verify their vote.
In this case, the voter will be able to verify their vote by seeing the slip for only seven seconds, following which the VVPPAT cuts it and drops it automatically into the sealed box.