TURA: Voting for the upcoming state elections, expected sometime next month, could witness record voter turnout in the Garo Hills as this will be the first time the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) will be in use in all polling stations which allows the voter to see briefly a printed slip of the vote cast.
The West Garo Hills District Election Officer and Deputy Commissioner, Ram Singh, has stated that the VVPAT will be in use in all 473 polling stations across the district.
With the VVPAT in use during polling, a voter who has cast his ballot in an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) will also see on the screen of the VVPAT machine a printed copy containing the serial number, name and symbol of the candidate he has voted for. This ballot slip will be visible for seven seconds after which it will be cut and dropped in the printer’s drop box to be stored.
During Monday’s meeting on familiarisation with the VVPAT, in which political parties and media persons took part, a ‘Hands on demo’ was organised to create awareness with party representatives and other participants trying out the VVPAT machines and casting their vote in a mock exercise.
“This is the first time in Meghalaya that the VVPAT machines are being introduced for polls and today’s exercise would be replicated in villages and far flung areas as well,” said Ram Singh.
He added that the awareness exercise is being taken up because there had earlier been many misconceptions about EVMs use in social media.
“This ‘Hands on Demo’ is being carried out before political parties and the maximum number of electors in villages and other areas to boost voter confidence and clear the air on misconceptions. These are the latest VVPAT machines,” said the deputy commissioner.
He also pointed out that with the presence of a paper trail any voter having a dispute on its performance will have to fill a declaration under law and if caught lying would be prosecuted.
Some of the political party representatives that witnessed the VVPAT demo included Grithalson Arengh of the Congress, Mathias Marak of the National People’s Party (NPP) and sitting MDC Augustine Marak representing the Garo National Council (GNC).
“I took part in the VVPAT demo and it was satisfying to see the vote cast by me as well as the ballot slip. Such an exercise will clear the air on voters concerns,” said Grithalson Arengh of the Congress.
“The decision by the Election Commission of India to make it mandatory for VVPATs during voting is a very welcome step and will further boost the confidence of the voters,” stated Mathias Marak of the NPP.
Sitting GHADC MDC Augustine Marak of the GNC, who is an aspiring candidate in the coming state elections from Siju-Rongara said that the VVPAT system was being well accepted wherever had been used.
“This will further strengthen democracy in our state and country,” said Augustine Marak.
Training for elections: Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner (Election) in West
Garo Hills has informed all the concerned officials that the first phase of training for the upcoming General Election 2018 to Meghalaya Legislative Assembly for West Garo Hills district has been scheduled from 10th to 12th of January and all those listed for training have been directed to attend without fail.