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KOHIMA — As part of the ongoing initiative to address doubts surrounding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs), Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer (DEO) of Kohima, Kumar Ramnikant flagged off a mobile demonstration van (MDV) on Thursday.
The event took place at the office of the Deputy Commissioner and DEO Kohima.
The initiative, part of the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme, aims to raise awareness about the usage of EVMs/VVPATs in preparation for the forthcoming general election to the Lok Sabha 2024.
Addressing the event, the deputy commissioner emphasised on the importance of dispelling rumors and doubts surrounding EVMs, while acknowledging the skepticism held by some political parties and citizens nationwide.
The two-day demonstration will be conducted in Kohima city, specifically targeting urban areas such as PHQ junction, main town Y-junction, and Secretariat areas.
Ramnikant urged the citizens to take advantage of the opportunity to witness firsthand how EVM machines function and gain confidence in the electoral process.
Informing that simultaneous exercises are being conducted in all districts of the state, he said Kohima district is also ensuring coverage in all polling stations.
While physical demonstrations of EVMs and VVPATs will cease after the election announcement, digital outreach efforts will intensify, he added.
Meanwhile, voters can visit the DC and DEO office at the district headquarters for hands-on experience, and at the sub-division level, they can visit respective ADC and SDO (Civil) offices under Kohima district.
It was informed that in Kohima district, the initiative has made significant progress in rural areas and at the sub-divisional levels, covering 154 out of the total 177 polling stations in the district.
The authorities are optimistic about achieving 100% coverage by next week, reinforcing their commitment to ensuring an informed and confident electorate for the upcoming Lok Sabha election.