EVM’s To Be Transported Only In Government Vehicles After Balloting, Instructs Election Commission

Lucknow, March 8 (TNA) The Election Commission of India (ECI) has mandated that electronic voting machines (EVMs) to be used for the forthcoming general elections will only be transported in government vehicles and they will have GPS tracking facility. No type of private vehicle can be used to bring or carry EVMs, the poll panel has instructed officials.

The Election Commission of India has issued strict guidelines regarding the security of EVMs. An EVM was found in a private vehicle in Varanasi during the Assembly Elections-2022. Commission's Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, who came to Lucknow recently, had also mentioned that incident. Taking a lesson from the Varanasi incident, the Commission has clarified that EVMs will be taken from one place to another only in government vehicles or vehicles authorized by the government. GPS will also be installed in vehicles engaged in EVM transportation.

The Election Commission has instructed all the District Election Officers to treat all political parties equally and take action against those officers who are biased. Besides, all DEOs have been instructed to take immediate action on any complaint related to voter lists from political parties. Instructions have been given to take immediate action and register an FIR against those involved in activities related to election crimes.

For the elections, 566 check posts will be set up in Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand and other states and 30 districts bordering Nepal. These also include 38 check posts of the Excise Department and 31 check posts of other departments.