New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) as well as former President of India Ram Nath Kovind have set the ball rolling on the country’s election, albeit with an altogether different set of tasks in hand.
While former President Ramnath Kovind initiated discussions on the ‘One Nation One Election’ concept mooted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Election Commission of India (ECI) today launched a nationwide awareness programme on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) to provide citizens with a first-hand experience of the voting process and familiarity with the machines ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The ECI focuses on imparting knowledge about the basic features of EVMs and VVPATs, elucidating the step-by-step procedure of casting votes, and educating voters on how to verify their choices through the VVPAT slip.
“Awareness through physical demonstration fosters a deeper understanding of EVM and VVPAT functionality and is instrumental in dispelling misconceptions, boosting voter confidence, and ensuring a more informed and participative electorate,” the ECI stated.
The programme includes outreach and awareness activities in 3464 Assembly Constituencies spread across 613 Districts in 31 States/Union Territories (other than 5 states that went for polls recently). Over 3500 demonstration centres and around 4250 mobile vans have been set up to physically demonstrate EVM/VVPAT functionality to the public.
As per ECI’s standing instructions, state Chief Electoral Officers need to start a focused awareness campaign approximately 3 months before the announcement of the election (for this purpose the date of announcement of the last election may be considered).
The Commission has a detailed Standard Operating Procedure for the use of EVMs for Training and Awareness (T&A) purposes including public demonstration programmes.
Meanwhile, a consultation process has also been initiated by a high-level committee constituted under the chairmanship of former President Ram Nath Kovind on ‘One Nation One Election’, the Ministry of Law informed today.
As part of this consultation process, suggestions and considered views are solicited from the citizens, political parties, eminent jurists like former Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and High Courts, constitutional experts, and former Chief Election Commissioners among others.
As part of this consultation, on January 17, 2024, Kovind met Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari, former Chief Justice of Madras High Court in New Delhi. Continuing with the deliberations today afternoon, he further held discussions with Justice Gorla Rohini, former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court and Sushil Chandra, former Chief Election Commissioner of India. The consultation process shall continue in the coming days, the Ministry informed.
– global bihari bureau
