Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission of India is conducting VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) awareness campaign to the electors in all the Polling Station Locations.
"The said campaign should commence on 09.02.2019 by flagging off the Vehicles carrying EVMs and VVPATs by the DEOs concerned," said a statement from the EC. It said further: "The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in its order, dated 08.10.2013 in the Civil Appeal No.9093 of 2013, permitted the Election Commission of India to introduce VVPATs (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) in gradual stages in the general elections and further added that the area, State or actual booth(s) are to be decided by the ECI and the ECI is free to implement the same in the phased manner. Since August 2013, VVPATs are being used with EVMs continuously, in selected constituencies, as per the availability of VVPATs.
In the meeting of political parties held on 12 th May 2017, the Commission announced 100% coverage of VVPATs in all future election to Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies."
In this connection, the Commission has decided that the VVPAT shall be used with EVMs at all the polling stations in the upcoming General Elections to Lok Sabha-2019. The Commission has instructed to create awareness to the general public, in this regard, it said.
Therefore, all District Election Officers have been instructed to conduct the EVM- VVPAT awareness campaign. "Each Polling Station Location is served with reasonable time dedicated to Public for demonstration, there will be at least 6 to 7 teams deployed for each Assembly Constituency," it added.
