EC to introduce paper trail of vote in Nagaland bypoll

In the backdrop of demands by various parties, the paper trail of votes will be introduced in the country next month starting with Nagaland assembly bypoll.

The paper trail will be used as a pilot project during the Noksen (ST) assembly constituency bye-election in Nagaland on September 4.

The Election Commission decided to use the Voter Verifiable Audit Trail System (VVPAT) (paper trail of votes) with electronic voting machines (EVMs) after government amended the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, allowing the Election Commission to do so.

"The Election Commission of India has decided to use the VVPAT system at the current bye-election from 51-Noksen (ST) Assembly Constituency of Nagaland. The poll for this bye- election is to be held on 4th September 2013," an EC statement said.

The paper trail of votes is being introduced in the wake of demands by various parties and leaders like L K Advani and J Jayalalitha seeking such a system to clear doubts of voters on EVMs. The new system will ensure if the vote cast by a voter has gone to the candidate of his choice.

The VVPAT system enables a voter to see in print the vote cast by him. However, the paper slip of his vote is not handed over to him and is kept separately at the polling booth.

The Commission has issued instructions to hold special meetings with the contesting candidates of Noksen constituency to brief them about the use of paper trail machines.

The Commission is also organising special training sessions for poll officers in the use of VVPAT and also for voters to held educate them for the use of new machines.