Greater Noida, August 19: The Election Commission of India and the Uttar Pradesh Election Commission have ramped up preparations for the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. In this context, a significant workshop on the first-level checking of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) was held at Gautam Buddha University in Greater Noida. Officials received extensive training on EVM inspections, electoral processes, and machine security protocols.
During the workshop, senior officials from the Election Commission of India and the Uttar Pradesh Election Commission met with officials from five divisions of the state to review election preparations and provide necessary guidelines. Officials from the Agra, Aligarh, Meerut, Saharanpur, and Bareilly divisions participated in the event. A total of 21 district magistrates and 21 additional district magistrates (ADMs) from these divisions attended the training program. The primary aim of the workshop was to thoroughly train district election officials and related personnel on the first-level checking of EVMs in light of the upcoming assembly elections.
Officials were informed about the inspection process of EVMs, which will be conducted under established protocols, ensuring transparency and participation from political parties. Representatives from political parties were also invited to the workshop to familiarize them with the EVM-related processes. However, no representatives from political parties attended the event.
According to officials, following the workshop, district magistrates, who serve as district election officers, and ADMs/deputy district election officers will hold meetings with representatives from political parties at the district level. These meetings will provide political parties with information regarding the first-level checking of EVMs and other related procedures. The Election Commission plans to conduct random checks of the EVMs after the inspection and related processes are completed, adhering to established rules and maintaining transparency. Subsequently, the EVMs will be securely stored in strong rooms and sealed according to prescribed procedures.
The workshop also emphasized the importance of ensuring no negligence in the security and handling of EVMs during elections. The commission aims to maintain transparency at every stage of the electoral process, ensuring complete trust in the reliability of EVMs among political parties and voters.
Manish Garg, Senior Deputy Election Commissioner of India, provided insights into the first-level checking process of EVMs and electoral preparations during the workshop. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa also provided essential guidelines related to the electoral process. This initiative by the Election Commission clearly indicates a focus on timely administrative preparations at the district level ahead of the assembly elections. Every phase, from EVM inspections to random checks and secure storage, is being meticulously planned to comply with established regulations.
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