Keep poll equipment ready, JEO tells officials

Eluru: For a trouble-free election, complete understanding of EVMs and VVPATs for presiding and assistant presiding officers is necessary, said Joint Election Officer Vivek Yadav.He convened a video-conference with various District Collectors and Joint Collectors on the conduct of elections and use of EVMs and VVPATs from Vijayawada on Saturday night.

Speaking on the occasion, he instructed the officials to impart comprehensive training to presiding and assistant presiding officers on the functioning of EVMs and VVPATs. Apart from polling staff, the required number of EVMs and VVPATs should be supplied. A prior tally of the equipment would help the officials in knowing whether they had enough quantity of equipment or not. In case they require more equipment, they should keep them ready to meet the emergency situations, he advised.

The Joint Election Officer said that it was important to replace the malfunctioning EVMs and VVPATs at the time of polling without interrupting the polling process. The presiding officials should act fast in emergency and inform about any defective EVMs so that the same be replaced without delay to continue polling.

Joint Collector M Venugopal Reddy informed the Joint Election Officer that they had already imparted training to polling staff on use of EVMs and VVPATs. The district needs 400 more VVPATs and a request was also made to the Election Commission.

Later, the Joint Collector urged the superintendents of various departments to take steps and ensure that there was no shortage of poll equipment at the time of polling. He advised them to keep ready enough quantity of the material to avoid last hour delays.