Strong rooms sealed in Jamshedpur, voting at 1887 polling stations on May 25

Jamshedpur: In preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the commissioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines has been successfully completed for all six assembly constituencies in the district. District Election Officer  Ananya Mittal oversaw the process, conducting an inspection at the dispatch center located at LBSM and Co-operative College.

Following the commissioning, the EVMs were securely placed in the strong rooms of the respective assembly constituencies under  Mittal’s supervision. The inspection and commissioning were conducted in the presence of Deputy Development Commissioner  Manish Kumar, along with the Assistant Returning Officers (ARO) and Additional Assistant Returning Officers (AERO) of the concerned constituencies.

 The EVM and VVPAT commissioning was carried out in the presence of candidates and their election agents to ensure transparency. During the inspection,  Mittal reviewed the security arrangements for the strong rooms, issuing strict instructions to prevent unauthorized access to the dispatch center premises and the strong rooms. He emphasized the need for continuous surveillance through 24×7 CCTV monitoring.

 Mittal explained that the commissioning of EVMs and VVPATs followed the finalization of the list of contesting candidates. On the polling day, a mock poll will be conducted 90 minutes before the actual voting begins. This mock poll will involve casting at least 50 votes, including one for each candidate and the None of the Above (NOTA) option. The Presiding Officer will prepare a certificate matching the results from the control unit with the VVPAT slips. After the mock poll, the data will be cleared from the control unit, and the VVPAT slips will be sealed in a black envelope.

The district’s 1887 polling stations are now fully equipped and ready for voters to cast their ballots on May 25. The District Election Officer’s thorough preparations and directives aim to ensure a secure, transparent, and efficient election process.

71.98% voters cast ballots via Postal Voting

Jamshedpur: In the lead-up to the 5th phase of the Lok Sabha elections, a significant 71.98% of eligible voters have utilized the postal ballot system. Today, 2207 voters from various essential services and electoral duties participated in postal voting, contributing to this impressive turnout.

These voters include members of the deputed polling party, police officers, police force, home guards, district officials, and personnel. The postal ballot system has provided a convenient and efficient voting method for those unable to attend polling stations due to their critical roles in election administration and essential services.

Additionally, home voting was facilitated for elderly and disabled individuals, ensuring their participation in the democratic process. Today, 12 such voters were able to cast their votes from the comfort of their homes, demonstrating the election commission’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.