By: Sudeep Jain Director General, Election Commission of India 10 March 2016

The Wonder Machine of Indian Elections

Indian EVMs are rated as the most credible voting machines worldwide. 100% Temper Proof Elaborate Security & Randomisation Protocol Observers Play a Key Role Should visit EVM strong room & check that security protocol is followed as per ECI instructions. Pre-Poll & Post-Poll - Strong rooms to have: 24X7 armed police guard CCTV & continuous video recording Facility for candidates/their agents to keep a watch

Check & certify second randomisation of EVMs Oversee Setting of candidates on EVMs after second randomization is done, as soon as candidates are finalized Update CU & BU numbers of EVMs for each Polling Station on EVM tracking software Communicate the above list of EVMs, including reserve & training EVMs, in writing to the candidates Let candidates pick up minimum 5% EVMs randomly & do mock poll with 1000 votes Entire process to be done in the presence of candidates/their agents under video VVPAT will be used in 10 & 22 Assembly Constituencies in Assam & West Bengal

Mock poll to start 1 hour before actual poll in the presence of Polling agents. Minimum 50 mock votes. Mock poll certificate to be prepared by the Presiding Officer & signed by agents present. In case EVM replacement is required – EVMs should be replaced within half an hour including both CU & BU Entire set of BU & CU should be replaced Cross check in advance how the reserve EVMs are being distributed ID number of the new BU & CU to be communicated to all candidates/agents in writing Mock Poll to be conducted before using the new EVM EVMs are to be transported to the strong rooms only under strong police guard. Special Counter for receiving EVM from ‘problem polling stations’ identified during poll. Observer to remain present at the special counter & record statements of P.O. where significant events such as EVM malfunctioning reported.

Counting shall begin with Postal Ballot papers. After half an hour, counting with EVMs shall begin. Results of EVM counting should not be announced before finalizing Postal Ballot counting. Result of two EVM to be randomly re-checked by Micro-Observers. A close-up of the display screen of the CU to be video recorded at the time of counting. In case result is not retrieved from an EVM, it should be kept aside & counting of other EVMs to be continued. Efforts to be made to retrieve result from such EVM by ADU or by a printer If result is still not retrieved then check the number of votes polled in the EVM from ballot paper account (Form 17-C) If winning margin is more than the number of votes polled in the EVM, result could be declared. Otherwise refer the matter to the Commission for decision

"Before you become a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others”

You can be the catalyst to convert routine trainings to effective trainings Check availability of master-trainers. Is the number sufficient? Interact with them Check the schedule of trainings Hands-on EVM training to Polling Teams Adequate training of Police, Sector Magistrates, Flying Squads, Static Surveillance Teams, etc Sample each of these trainings & ensure they are not ‘attendance marking’ events. Check the quality & effectiveness Micro-observers to be trained by Observers

Poll day arrangements inside polling stations (dummy polling station setup with trained manpower at dispatch centre) Voting compartment to be secure & secluded Only authorized persons to be inside PS Understanding of the role of Polling Agents & giving them the requisite documents – 17-C, Paper seal no. Presiding officer not to go to voting compartment & ‘assist’ the voters Training on SMS based poll monitoring and other IT applications Explain Supreme Court judgment about ‘NOTA’ & scrapping of Rule 49 O Explain about Absent, Shifted & Duplicate names in E-Roll Filling up of Register –17A & 17C & Tallying of 17A, 17C & the EVM count Training Counter at Dispatch centers for last moment hands-on training on EVM and related procedures.