EC to introduce paper trail of votes in Nagaland bypoll

New Delhi, Aug 19: Nagaland will be the first state to introduce the paper trail of votes in the country next month in the assembly bypoll. The paper trail of votes will be incorporated keeping in mind the demands of various parties and it 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 the government amended the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, that allows the Election Commission to do so.

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

The paper trail of votes is being introduced due to the demands made by various parties and leaders like L K Advani and J Jayalalithaa who seek 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 or not.

The VVPAT system enables a voter to see in print the vote cast by him. On the other hand, 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 organizing training sessions for the poll officers as to how can they use VVPAT and also educate the voters on the usage of the machines.

PTI