ECI Launches Nationwide Awareness Program on EVMs and VVPATs for 2024 Lok Sabha Polls

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 19th Jan. In preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated a nationwide awareness program on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) to familiarize citizens with the voting process and the machines themselves.

This program, which is conducted before every General Election, aims to educate voters about the basic features of EVMs and VVPATs, guide them through the step-by-step voting procedure, and teach them how to verify their choices using the VVPAT slip. By physically demonstrating the functionality of EVMs and VVPATs, this awareness program aims to dispel misconceptions, boost voter confidence, and encourage a more informed and engaged electorate.

The program includes outreach and awareness activities in 3464 Assembly Constituencies across 613 Districts in 31 States/Union Territories (excluding the 5 states that recently held elections). More than 3500 demonstration centers and approximately 4250 mobile vans have been set up to provide hands-on demonstrations of EVM and VVPAT functionality to the public. Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) and District Electoral Officers (DEOs) are also utilizing social media platforms to enhance the reach of this awareness program.

In accordance with the ECI’s instructions, state Chief Electoral Officers are required to initiate a focused awareness campaign approximately 3 months prior to the election announcement. A schedule for the campaign is prepared by the DEO on an assembly constituency/segment-wise basis, which is then shared with National and State Recognized Political Parties and local media.

The Commission has established a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the use of EVMs in Training and Awareness (T&A) programs, including public demonstration programs. The SOP covers protocols for handling and storing T&A EVMs, the use of only approved EVMs with dummy symbols, and the destruction of VVPAT slips generated during training and awareness activities. The list of EVMs used for T&A purposes is also provided to political parties with an acknowledgment.