MARGAO
There’s good news in store for the candidates and voters as the Election Commission has given clear indications that all the 1642 Electronic Voting Machines will have the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), including the 848 EVMs in South Goa district.
While the electoral office, Goa had initially planned to introduce the VVPAT machine in 142 polling stations, sources said the EC has told the electoral office to make all out preparations for the introduction of the VVPAT machines in all EVMs across the state.
Thursday saw South Goa Collector, Swapnil Naik holding a demo for the scribes to make them familiar on the functioning and operation of the VVPAT machine. “We have received indications from the Election Commission that VVPATs will be used in all the EVMs in the coming election. Hence, we have decided to hold demonstrations and awareness programs across the district”, he said.
In fact, Swapnil said that the election officials will hold the demo in all the panchayats and municipalities to spread awareness amongst public.
Replying to a question, the Collector said one can have a look at the slip generated in the VVPAT machine after the voter presses the EVM button. He, however, said that the voter cannot have access to the slip and it automatically falls in the compartment.
Asked whether the slips generated in VVPAT machine will also be counted during vote counting, Swapnil said “the slips can come in handy in times of controversy to tally the votes polled in the EVM’.
Meanwhile, the Collector said that two buses designated as “democracy buses” will be flagged off in both districts from December 14, to spread awareness amongst the voters on the ensuing election.
