Surat Municipal Corporation Conducts Major EVM Inspection and Sealing Ahead of Polls
In a significant step towards the forthcoming municipal corporation elections, officials in Surat executed a comprehensive inspection and sealing operation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) warehouse on Friday. This critical pre-election activity was designed to verify the integrity and functionality of the voting equipment, ensuring a smooth electoral process.
Large-Scale Verification of Voting Machines
The testing was meticulously carried out in the presence of representatives from multiple key organizations. Officials from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), the district collector's office, the Industrial Training Institute (ITI), and the SMC oversaw the entire procedure. During this extensive exercise, a total of 4,373 control units and 8,746 ballot units were retrieved for thorough verification, amounting to an impressive 13,119 individual machine components.
Technicians and election personnel methodically switched on the machines using batteries, paired the control and ballot units, and conducted multiple trial runs to confirm their proper operation. After each set was confirmed to be fully functional, the machines were securely sealed. Each verified EVM set was then carefully placed inside a dedicated metal trunk, which was subsequently sealed again to prevent any tampering.
Involvement of Extensive Personnel and Future Steps
The inspection process mobilized a substantial workforce, involving 15 BEL officials, 10 ITI instructors, and approximately 60 SMC officers and staff, bringing the total number of personnel engaged in this operation to 115. Additionally, the strong room where the EVMs are stored was also sealed to maintain security until the elections commence.
An SMC official provided insights into the next phases, stating, "Once the election process formally begins, random testing will be conducted again by election officials. After this secondary verification, the machines will be handed over to the election authorities for actual polling." Officials also noted that with each control unit, two ballot units are prepared to accommodate a larger number of candidates if the need arises during the elections.
Timeline for Municipal Elections
Sources indicate that the municipal corporation elections in Gujarat are anticipated to be scheduled soon after the completion of the ongoing SIR (Survey, Inspection, and Report) process. This preparatory phase is expected to take at least two months, setting the stage for the electoral activities to follow. This proactive measure in Surat underscores the administration's commitment to conducting free, fair, and transparent elections with fully vetted and secure voting technology.
