What is the ECI's New EVM/VVPAT Awareness Campaign?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, Feb 11 (NationPress) The Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated a comprehensive awareness campaign for EVM/VVPAT in five states and Union Territories gearing up for elections: Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, as stated in an official announcement on Wednesday.
The objective of this initiative is to educate voters about the operation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) systems.
This structured campaign is being executed through EVM Demonstration Centres (EDCs) and Mobile Demonstration Vans (MDVs).
The ECI has established EDCs at the offices of District Election Officers (DEOs), Returning Officers, and Revenue Sub-Division offices across the five States/UTs. These facilities allow voters to engage with the voting process directly and seek clarification on how the machines operate.
As of February 10, over 1.20 lakh voters have participated in the demonstration sessions at EDCs, with more than 1.16 lakh casting mock votes during these events.
Furthermore, MDVs have reached over 29,000 polling station sites to ensure effective outreach in both urban and rural communities.
The Commission has also provided detailed statistics regarding the campaign's implementation in each of the election-bound States/UTs, which includes the start dates, the number of polling stations engaged, and visitor counts at demonstration centres in Kerala, Assam, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.
The purpose of the EVM/VVPAT Awareness Campaign is to boost voter confidence by offering practical exposure to the machines, addressing concerns, and reinforcing the transparency of the electoral process.
The ECI asserts its unwavering commitment to conducting free, fair, and transparent elections and will continue to enhance voter awareness initiatives in the near future.
In a separate announcement, the Election Commission declared that the final electoral roll for Goa will be published on February 21. This announcement noted that the final publication of the electoral roll under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise is set for February 21, 2026 (Saturday).