The Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system, wherein a voter will be able to see a printout of the symbol of the candidate to whom he has voted, will be introduced in the Central Chennai parliamentary constituency in the State.
As per the electoral roll published in January, the strength of electors of Central Chennai, which comprises the Assembly segments of Villivakkam, Egmore, Harbour, Chepauk-Triplicae, Thousand Lights and Anna Nagar, is 12,80,251. The facility of VVPAT will be made available in all 1,153 polling stations of the constituency, according to a press release issued by Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Kumar on Monday.
The printout of the image, which could be viewed through a glass window, would be retained in the VVPAT unit.
On the selection of the constituency, the CEO replied that the size and electorate of the constituency were among the factors considered.
To arrive in a weekThe VVPAT units, which had to be procured from the Bharat Electronics Limited, Bangalore, would arrive here in a week, Mr. Kumar said, adding that the District Election Office [Chennai Corporation] had been advised to make arrangements for getting the units from Bangalore.
Initially, training to master trainers to handle the VVPAT system would be given by the Election Commission in New Delhi. Subsequently, the trainers would train polling staff pertaining to the Central Chennai constituency, a release said.
It was during the by-election to the Noksen Assembly constituency of Nagaland in September last year that the VVPAT was launched in the country.
