By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Principal Secretary, P Naik, Election etc., Meghalaya said the mock polls conducted in Sohra on July 26 was successful as many political parties participated in the process as it indicated their level of “keen” interest.
The EVMs that were used in the poll gives out a paper trial as proof or Voter Verifiable Paper Trial (VVPT) and has operated flawlessly with 80 per cent turnout, said the official.
He said the poll was successful particularly since people braved the weather and most importantly it was only a voluntary participation with no real elections.
The poll was conducted to test the credibility of VVPT machines developed by Bharat Electronic Limited (BEL) and Electronic Corporation of India Limited (ECIL).
Meanwhile, the DC, East Khasi Hills, J Lyngdoh said in terms of mobilisation of voters it was quite successful but vote counting took a longer time from 8:30 am to 10:15 pm.
On voters’ preference on printers of the VVPT machine, the DC said originally he thought of placing one open and close machine so that people can see both the types in prototype VVPT system.
“But as the ECI proposed 18 voting machines — 9 by 9 — i.e. one will have the close machines and the other will have the open machines in all the mock polling booths in the country i.e. Ladakh, Thiruvananthapuram, East Delhi and Jaisalmer,” he said.
Informing that political parties such as Congress and UDP preferred the close printers because it prevents tampering and manipulation as often alleged by political parties, the DC also said some organisations have also given him in writing about their preferences for the close printers.
