VVPATs to be used on pilot basis in Central Bengaluru segments

The newly procured Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) for the Karnataka Assembly elections would be used in Assembly constituencies in Central Bengaluru on a pilot basis this elections said N Manjunath Prasad, Commissioner, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

Karnataka is using VVPAT for the first time. Having procured 5,000 of these from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), it would be used them in costitutencies inlcuding Rajajinagar, Yeshwanthpur, Malleshwaram and surrounding areas. “While the device is technologically advanced, for a voter, it would have the same interface as the previous devices. If it is successful, we will have more such for the next elections,” Prasad added.

Of the 15,000 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) that the state would be using on the poll day, 5,000 would be the VVPAT model.

As part of an awareness campaign in poll-bound Karnataka, the Information Department in association with the Election Commission has organised an exhibition of photographs at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath in Bengaluru. It was inaugurated by Karnataka’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Sanjiv Kumar on Saturday.

A senior citizen coming to vote, a rare picture of what polling booth looked like years ago, a physically challenged person casting his vote. These are a few pictures among those on display at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath.

“We have received a good number of applications seeking voter ID cards this time. Even during the special drive that was conducted recently, over a lakh have received their voter ID. We are hopeful that a good number would turn up on the poll day,” Kumar said.

Speaking at the event, Dr Mamatha, additional CEO said that visitors who came to the Parishath were encouraged to visit the exhibition to create awareness. “We want to educate people through humour. We also have a carricatures drawing session happening by the side to add a humour touch to it,” she said.