Awareness on VVPAT low, EVMs malfunction in Central Chennai

: Malfunctioning Electronic Voting machines (EVMs), lack of awareness on the use of VVPAT machines and power cuts were some of the issues that came to the fore in some polling booths in Central Chennai constituency in the Lok Sabha polls here Thursday.

As people began thronging booths from 7 AM, the scheduled polling time, they were disappointed as EVMs did not function at Choolaimedu here, leading to a delayed start by 40 minutes.

DMK leader and former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran, Sam Paul of PMK under the AIADMK-led NDA, which includes the BJP and Kameela Nasser of Makkal Needhi Maiam were among the noted contenders in the fray in the constituency.

Lack of awareness on the use of VVPAT machines was evident as some voters complained that they were not informed about the opportunity to confirm as to whom they voted for.

Election Commission officials said the VVPAT machine would allow voters to confirm if their ballot was cast for the intended candidate after pressing the button on the EVM.

The name of the candidate along with the symbol is displayed in the VVPAT machine for seven seconds. However, many people left the polling station soon after pressing the button, unaware that they can see the name and symbol of the candidate.

"I selected the candidate to whom I wish to cast my vote and pressed the button. The official there asked me to leave as soon as the beep sound came," Anandhi, a voter said.

She said she was not aware that she can see details of the candidate for whom she voted through the VVPAT machine.

Another voter at Kodambakkam said a brief power cut resulted in officials having to scramble to verify the voter details, as the EVM alone was connected to the battery to ensure voting continued without interruption.

"There was a power cut and the officials were busy collecting the details of the voters who were standing in large numbers. They were focused on ensuring that the voters after casting their votes left as soon as they pressed the button. So I just left without seeing the candidate details on the VVPAT machine", he said.

In another polling booth at Ganga Nagar, voters had brought booth slips without the mandatory identity cards and had to return without casting their votes.

Despite the notification on producing any of the identity cards like UIDAI, bank passbook, voter identity card, driving licence, many voters turned up with only the booth slips.

They waited for more than 40 minutes in a long queue and were not allowed to cast their votes as they could not produce any of the identity cards.

Some left the place without voting, saying they would return later.

"We were standing in a long queue when this happened. I was about to enter the polling station and was told I cannot cast my vote without producing any of the identity cards. So I had to leave," another voter said.

A booth official said despite the Election Commission taking up various campaigns to educate the voters, low awareness still prevailed.