The city of Coimbatore has initiated a crucial two-day mock polling exercise to ensure the seamless functioning of electronic voting systems ahead of upcoming elections. The process, which commenced on Friday, is being conducted under strict supervision to evaluate the integrity and readiness of all election machinery.
Supervised Testing with Political Scrutiny
The mock polling is taking place at the South Taluk office in Coimbatore. A significant aspect of this exercise is the presence of representatives from twelve recognised political parties, ensuring transparency and building confidence in the electoral process. The entire operation is under the direct inspection of District Collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar.
On the first day, Friday, the mock poll was conducted across approximately 156 units. The exercise is scheduled to continue on Saturday, covering an additional 106 units. This extensive testing is designed to simulate real voting conditions and identify any potential technical glitches.
Election Commission's Preparatory Measures
All essential voting equipment has been securely stored at the venue. The Election Commission (EC) has placed the ballot boxes, which are the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), the control units, and the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units in the warehouse of the taluk office.
An official from the Election Commission provided details on the procedure. "All the EVMs and VVPAT machines, along with their corresponding control units, were thoroughly evaluated," the official stated. The mock polling was executed by placing dummy symbols on the machines to replicate the actual voting experience without using real candidate names.
Ensuring Electoral Integrity and Trust
This rigorous pre-election drill serves multiple critical purposes. Primarily, it allows election officials to verify the technical robustness of every EVM and VVPAT unit. Secondly, it provides hands-on training for polling personnel in a controlled environment. Most importantly, the involvement of multiple political parties fosters trust and demonstrates the Commission's commitment to conducting free and fair elections.
The successful completion of this mock poll in Coimbatore is a key step in the Election Commission's meticulous preparations. It underscores the procedural diligence aimed at ensuring that the final election day proceeds without any hitches, thereby upholding the democratic process.
