evms
POLL-READY: First-level randomisation of VVPATs and EVMs in Sonitpur DC office. Image Credit - Northeast Now

The first level randomisation of EVMs and VVPATs for allocation of Assembly constituencies under Tezpur Election District was done on Sunday in the conference hall of the deputy commissioner’s (DC) office in the presence of representatives of all political parties and media persons.

The randomisation was carried out through the EVM Management System after which all EVMs (which includes the Ballot Unit and Control Unit) and VVPAT machines were allotted to any of the five Assembly constituencies under Tezpur Election district.

While 16 per cent Ballot Units and Control Units have been kept in reserve, 26 per cent of VVPAT machines have been kept in reserve over and above the required number of 1,118 against each polling station in the district. The randomisation was carried out after the First Level Checking of EVMs and VVPATs was done and the second level of randomisation will be carried out at a later stage.

This is a part of the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) elaborate framework of administrative system, security protocols and procedural checks-and-balances that have been put in place to prevent any possible misuse or procedural lapses in use of EVM/VVPATs during the upcoming polls. District Election Officer and DC Narsing Pawar, Election Officer, Tezpur, Subhram Aditya Bora and other senior district administration officials were present at the meeting.