India poll body begins first-level check of voting machines ahead of 2024 general elections

The process was also undertaken keeping in view five key state elections in India later in 2023.

• Shubham
• 09 June, 2023

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By: Shubham Ghosh

Ahead of the 2024 general elections and five assembly polls due later this year, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated “first level checks” of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and paper-trail machines across the country in a phased manner, sources said.

“Mock polls” are part of the first level check (FLC) process, they said.

“It is a pan-India exercise. FLC will take place across the country in a phased manner, including all constituencies of Kerala,” an ECI functionary said.

He was responding to a question on a mock poll taking place in the Wayanad parliamentary constituency in the southern state of Kerala, which fell vacant following the disqualification of Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after he was convicted in a criminal defamation case in March by a sessions court in Surat in the western state of Gujarat.

Gandhi’s plea seeking a stay on the conviction and sentencing is pending before the Gujarat High Court.

“The Election Commission issues a calendar for such exercises and there are standing instructions that are to be followed by state chief electoral officers,” the functionary said.

The functionary pointed out that FLCs will also take place in the five poll-bound states of Rajasthan, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh as well as assembly and parliamentary seats where bypolls are due.

At present, parliamentary seats of Wayanad, Pune and Chandrapur (Maharashtra), Ghazipur (Uttar Pradesh) and Ambala (Haryana) are vacant.

During FLCs, EVMs and paper-trail machines are checked for mechanical flaws by engineers of Bharat Electronics and Electronics Corporation of India Limited, the two public sector undertakings that manufacture the two equipment.

Faulty machines are returned to the manufacturers for repair or replacement.

A mock poll is also held to check the two machines in the presence of representatives of political parties.

(With PTI inputs)