TRAINING PROGRAMME ON PREPARATIONS FOR THE POLL – COMMISSIONING OF ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES ON 25.02.2014TRAINING PROGRAMME ON PREPARATIONS FOR THE POLL – COMMISSIONING OF ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES
COLLECTORATE AUDITORIUM,KARIMNAGAR
EVM - INTRODUCTION
Simultaneous elections – two separate sets
No. of Control units = No. of PS
No. of Ballot Units = 1 for upto 16 candidates
10% reserve – rural areas, 5% - urban areas
For example – If no. of PS = 200 (160 – urban,40 – rural), then of No. of EVMs required - 168+44=212
In AC s where no. of contesting candidates >16,PO should arrange BU s
EVM FIRST LEVEL CHECK
First Level Checking of EVM is technical and physical examination of the machine by the engineers of the BEL/ECIL.
FLC when to be done : Sufficiently in advance before every General Election.
FLC is to be completed before finalization of the list of contesting candidates in an election.
FLC should be done at Dist Head quarters.
DEO shall nominate a nodal officer at his level and intimate the same to the CEO.
RANDOMIZATION
FLC OK in EVM Tracking software
Database of CU and BU s verified and certified
First Randomization
After FLC of EVMs, the first randomisation of EVM (BU & CU) to be done to allocate AC wise.
This randomisation can be done in the EVM Tracking Software.
The DEO to fix the schedule of first randomisation and inform the political parties to remain present.
After random allocation of EVM for election, random allocation for training and awareness is to be done.
First Randomization
After fixing the schedule,randomization to be done in presence of political parties.
Randomization will be done using a computer software
Sticker of GREEN Color – used for Polling;Sticker of YELLOW Color – used for Training/Awareness
After 1st randomization, separate list of CU s and BU s allotted to each AC for use at polling and Training to be prepared,signed by DEO’s representative and RO and handed over to representatives of Political Parties
After First Randomization
RO shall take charge of CU s and BU s
Meant for Polling – RO’s strong room 24X7 security. Representatives of political parties can remain present during sealing of strong room.
Meant for training – handed over to concerned officials
Second Randomization After preparation of list of contesting candidates
Purpose – to allocate EVMs randomly to PS
RO should fix a date of preparation of EVMs for poll (Candidate set)
Date – after last day of withdrawal of candidates and finalization of ballot papers
Preparation shall be carried out in a large hall which can accommodate all EVMs to be prepared and all personnel concerned. Annexure XLVII will be complied by RO
Entry to this hall shall be on production of Identity Card issued by the DEO.
The hall should be sanitized – free from all electronic device (except devices carried by the engineers of EVM).
Only one entry provided with metal detector door frame and guarded by the police
Preparation of EVM by RO After preparation of list of contesting candidates
PS number should be marked in EVM tracking software against those BU s and CU s.others to be marked as ‘Reserve’.
Such list to be given to all candidates with written acknowledgement
Any candidate/agent present at the hall may choose to get the CU/BU checked again through mock poll cum result verification.
RO should do a random verification of atleast 10% of such CU-BU pairs
Address tagging to be done at this stage itself- both for CU and BU
Important
Personnel with valid ID and passes will be allowed
Only authorized engineers of BEL and ECIL shall be associated for technical support
Outer cover of BU s shall be opened and inside of BU is shown to candidates
No BU and CU repairs should be carried out at this time
Print out of results of mock poll for atleast 5% of total EVMs shown to representatives
Preparation shall be supervised by RO or one of the AROs deputed.Entire process to be fully video graphed
PREPARATION OF EVMs
Preparation of Control Unit
The ready lamp glows when the unit is switched on
The slide switch is used to set the no of the unit, ie it is set to 1 if there are only 16 candidates and 1 for the first and 2 for the second if there are 17 to 32 candidates and so on
The candidate’s lamp glows indicating to the voter that his/her vote is cast in favor of that candidate
After the ballot paper is placed and aligned the screen is put in place and sealed
Ballot Unit - Internal parts
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Candidate button is the button which is pressed by the voter
Masking tab is used to mask the candidate buttons which are not in use; ie if there are only 8 candidates the remaining switches from 9 to 16 are masked and cannot be operated
PREPARATION OF BALLOT UNIT
Inserting and fixing ballot paper
Masking Candidate buttons with white color tabs
Setting the slide switch at appropriate positions 1,2,3,4
Sealing ballot unit in annexure XXX
Interlinking BU and CU
First Ballot unit alone is plugged to the Control unit
The socket for connecting BU and CU is provided in the rear compartment of the CU
Power switch in rear compartment of CU to ON
Connecting the Ballot Units and interlinking BU and CU needs practice to avoid any damage to the machines
Control Unit - View of Bottom Compartment
Power Switch
Bottom Compartment
Connecter for connecting the Ballot unit with interconnecting cable
Auxiliary unit connector – to connect second ballot unit in case of two simultaneous polls
Control Unit
ON Lamp
Busy Lamp
Display Section
On lamp glows when the unit is powered on.
Busy Lamp glows when a ballot is released and a voter is in the process of voting. After the casting the lamp goes off with a beep thus indicating that the vote is cast
Total button may be pressed at any given time to know the total no of votes polled till then
Ballot button – pressing of this button releases a vote in the ballot unit and also results in the busy lamp glowing
Control Unit - Display Section
button
Close
button
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Close button: To close the poll at the end of the appointed period. Once this button is depressed no more votes can be cast on this machine
Result 1 To view the results of poll 1
Result 2: To view the results of poll 2
Clear : Clears the data recorded in the voting machine – operable only after the results are viewed at least once
Control Unit - Ballot Section
Sealing that section of control unit called ‘candidate set section’
Read Annexure XXXII and chapter 3 of EVM manual published by manufacturing company
Control Unit - Candidate Set Section
Provision for
thread seal
compartment
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Candidate set button: For setting the no of candidates in the poll. The Ballot unit and the control unit are connected and powered on. This button is pressed and the candidate button on the ballot unit corresponding to the last candidate is pressed.
Dispatch to Polling Stations
Inform the Date and time of opening strong room to the candidates/agents
Delivery to Presiding Officers
Machine number on metal label and adhesive sticker
PS number indicated on sticker with PS assigned in address tag.
Any discrepancy shall be brought to the notice of concerned and reconciled
ALL the stages of randomization of EVMs shall be fully covered with videography and records maintained properly
Important events
First Randomization should be done after FLC
Schedule for preparation of EVMs – RO should fix between 3-5 days for each AC
In Parliamentary elections – preparation of EVMs to be supervised by ARO.
Completion - 8 to 10 days before the poll
SAFE PRESERVATION OF PREPARED EVMs
All EVMs including reserve should be kept and preserved in safe custody of RO in a strong room under double lock duly sealed.
Strong room to be opened only on appointed date and time when machines are to be supplied to polling parties.A proper logbook to be maintained giving details of closing and opening of strong room
In emergency,if strong room to be opened,notice to be sent the candidates
Strong room to be guarded all the time under the supervision not below the rank of DSP
MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS OF EVMs
Maintain complete record of all control units and Ballot units used at election in the form of Master REGISTER
Record should show no. of control units and ballot units with serial numbers including reserve
EVMs used for training and demonstration purposes are not to be used for taking Poll on the Poll day
Separate Register for details of voting machines supplied to PO s with their names, assigned PS before Poll and after Poll
POLLING MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR EVMs
List of Various Polling Materials –Annexure VIII
Form 17A-Register of Voters under Rule 49L(1)
VOTERS’ SLIP
ADDRESS TAGS – one for CU and one for BU. To be printed in sufficient quantity well in advance
SPECIAL TAG – to seal inner door of the Result section of CU. Prepared at Govt Printing Press
Mock poll shall be conducted normally one hour before the scheduled hour of commencement of poll.
All contesting candidates should be informed in writing well in advance in this regard.
Polling agents of at least two candidates should be present at the time of Mock Poll. However, if polling agents of at least two candidates are not present, the Presiding Officer may wait for 15 more minutes.
Commencement of Mock poll
Candidates may be advised to share the machine no. of EVM allotted to specific PS with their Polling agent(s) so that they are in a position to inspect EVM.
PO s advised to display sticker containing the machine number to agents present
In case of replacement, special report by SO mentioning number, reasons and deployment
Machines shall be escorted back after the poll to strong room
Play the video…………