Massive EVM Deployment Underway for Tamil Nadu Elections
In a significant pre-election operation, election authorities have dispatched a total of 23,603 electronic voting machines (EVMs) to strong rooms across two key districts in Tamil Nadu. This deployment comes ahead of the crucial polling day scheduled for April 23, with all movements conducted under heavy police protection to ensure security and integrity.
Tirupur District: 10,431 EVMs Secured for Eight Constituencies
The first phase of this large-scale logistical exercise focused on Tirupur district, where 10,431 EVMs have been transported from warehouses to designated strong rooms. This includes 3,752 control units, 9,343 ballot units, and voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) units that will be utilized across the district's eight assembly constituencies.
The allocation was determined through the Electronic Voting Machine Management System during the initial randomization process. Constituency-wise distribution is as follows:
- Tirupur South: 1,067 machines
- Tirupur North: 1,634 machines
- Avinashi: 1,372 machines
- Palladam: 1,776 machines
- Kangayam: 1,175 machines
- Dharapuram: 1,184 machines
- Madathukulam: 1,088 machines
- Udumalaipet: 1,135 machines
All machines underwent thorough verification before dispatch, ensuring they are ready for the electoral process.
Coimbatore District: 13,172 EVMs for Ten Constituencies
Similarly, Coimbatore district has received 13,172 EVMs allocated to its ten assembly constituencies, covering 3,563 polling stations. The first randomization process here allocated 4,272 ballot units and control units, each with a 20% reserve, along with 4,628 VVPAT units maintaining a 30% reserve.
The constituency-wise breakdown in Coimbatore district is:
- Kavundampalayam: 2,023 units (largest allocation)
- Mettupalayam: 1,332 units
- Sulur: 1,424 units
- Coimbatore North: 1,252 units
- Thondamuthur: 1,372 units
- Singanallur: 1,323 units
- Coimbatore South: 1,045 units
- Pollachi: 1,039 units
- Kinathukadavu: 1,394 units
- Valparai (SC): 968 units
Security and Verification Protocols in Place
The entire dispatch operation has been conducted with stringent security measures, including heavy police escorts for all EVM convoys. Election officials emphasize that every machine has undergone comprehensive scanning and verification to prevent any technical glitches or discrepancies on polling day.
This meticulous preparation reflects the election commission's commitment to ensuring a smooth, transparent, and secure voting process for the upcoming elections in Tamil Nadu. The deployment of over 23,000 EVMs across these two districts alone highlights the scale of electoral preparations underway in the state.
