With the elections fast approaching, the election officials led by District Election Officer and Collector K.S. Kandasamy took various measures to create awareness on electronic voting machines (EVM) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines. Officials have been meeting different sections of people to sensitise them to the electoral exercise.
Speaking to transgenders at Vengikal community hall, Mr. Kandasamy said that for the first time VVPAT machines would be used in two Parliamentary constituencies.
Arni constituency comprises Polur, Vandavasi, Arani and Cheyyar Assembly segments from Tiruvannamalai district, and Gingee and Mayilam Assembly segments from Villupuram district. Tiruvannamalai constituency comprises Tiruvannamalai, Keezhpennathur, Chengam, Kalasapakkam Assembly segments from Tiruvannamalai district, and Tirupattur and Jolarpet Assembly segments from nearby Vellore district.
The officials also met the sadhus, permanently residing on the foothills of Tiruvannamalai and apprised them of the need for casting their votes. Earlier, the Collector and DRO met the inmates of old age homes and urged them to cast their votes without fail. They have collected forms to include names on Thursday. According to the voters list released on January 31, there are 76 transgenders, 354 sadhus in the district. After these awareness meetings, 278 sadhus came forward and enrolled for voters identity card, said Mr. Kandasamy.
