TRAINING PROGRAMME ON PREPARATIONS FOR THE POLL COMMISSIONING OF ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES ON 25.02.2014

TRAINING PROGRAMME ON PREPARATIONS FOR THE POLL COMMISSIONING OF ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINESCOLLECTORATE AUDITORIUM,KARIMNAGARWELCOME TO ALL PARTICIPANTSTopicsEVM - INTRODUCTIONREQUIREMENT OF VOTING MACHINESEVM FIRST LEVEL CHECKRANDOMIZATIONSPREPARATION OF EVMs-BU and CUMAINTENANCE OF RECORDS OF EVMsPOLLING MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR EVMs

EVM - INTRODUCTION

REQUIREMENT OF VOTING MACHINESSeparate Voting Machine for each PSSimultaneous elections two separate setsNo. of Control units = No. of PSNo. of Ballot Units = 1 for upto 16 candidates10% reserve rural areas, 5% - urban areasFor example If no. of PS = 200 (160 urban,40 rural), then of No. of EVMs required - 168+44=212In AC s where no. of contesting candidates >16,PO should arrange BU s

EVM FIRST LEVEL CHECKFirst Level Checking of EVM is technical and physical examination of the machine by the engineers of the BEL/ECIL.FLC when to be done : Sufficiently in advance before every General Election.FLC is to be completed before finalization of the list of contesting candidates in an election.FLC should be done at Dist Head quarters.DEO shall nominate a nodal officer at his level and intimate the same to the CEO.

RANDOMIZATIONFIRST RANDOMIZATION Adhesive Label

Defective CU and BU should be isolatedFLC OK in EVM Tracking softwareDatabase of CU and BU s verified and certified

First RandomizationAfter FLC of EVMs, the first randomisation of EVM (BU & CU) to be done to allocate AC wise.This randomisation can be done in the EVM Tracking Software.The DEO to fix the schedule of first randomisation and inform the political parties to remain present.After random allocation of EVM for election, random allocation for training and awareness is to be done.First RandomizationAfter fixing the schedule,randomization to be done in presence of political parties.Randomization will be done using a computer softwareSticker of GREEN Color used for Polling;Sticker of YELLOW Color used for Training/AwarenessAfter 1st randomization, separate list of CU s and BU s allotted to each AC for use at polling and Training to be prepared,signed by DEOs representative and RO and handed over to representatives of Political Parties

After First RandomizationRO shall take charge of CU s and BU sMeant for Polling ROs strong room 24X7 security. Representatives of political parties can remain present during sealing of strong room.Meant for training handed over to concerned officialsSecond Randomization After preparation of list of contesting candidatesPurpose to allocate EVMs randomly to PSRO should fix a date of preparation of EVMs for poll (Candidate set)Date after last day of withdrawal of candidates and finalization of ballot papersPreparation shall be carried out in a large hall which can accommodate all EVMs to be prepared and all personnel concerned. Annexure XLVII will be complied by ROEntry to this hall shall be on production of Identity Card issued by the DEO.The hall should be sanitized free from all electronic device (except devices carried by the engineers of EVM).Only one entry provided with metal detector door frame and guarded by the policePreparation of EVM by ROAfter preparation of list of contesting candidates

PS number should be marked in EVM tracking software against those BU s and CU s.others to be marked as Reserve.Such list to be given to all candidates with written acknowledgementAny candidate/agent present at the hall may choose to get the CU/BU checked again through mock poll cum result verification.RO should do a random verification of atleast 10% of such CU-BU pairsAddress tagging to be done at this stage itself- both for CU and BU

ImportantPersonnel with valid ID and passes will be allowedOnly authorized engineers of BEL and ECIL shall be associated for technical supportOuter cover of BU s shall be opened and inside of BU is shown to candidatesNo BU and CU repairs should be carried out at this timePrint out of results of mock poll for atleast 5% of total EVMs shown to representativesPreparation shall be supervised by RO or one of the AROs deputed.Entire process to be fully video graphed

PREPARATION OF EVMsPreparation of Ballot UnitInterlinking of BU and CUPreparation of Control Unit

Control UnitInterconnecting CableBallot UnitSub-Units of EVM

Ballot Unit - DetailsReady LampSlide Switch WindowCandidates ButtonCandidates LampBallot Paper Screen17The ready lamp glows when the unit is switched on

The slide switch is used to set the no of the unit, ie it is set to 1 if there are only 16 candidates and 1 for the first and 2 for the second if there are 17 to 32 candidates and so on

The candidates lamp glows indicating to the voter that his/her vote is cast in favor of that candidate

After the ballot paper is placed and aligned the screen is put in place and sealed

Ballot Unit - Internal parts

Slide SwitchCandidates ButtonMasking TabReady Lamp18Candidate button is the button which is pressed by the voter

Masking tab is used to mask the candidate buttons which are not in use; ie if there are only 8 candidates the remaining switches from 9 to 16 are masked and cannot be operatedPREPARATION OF BALLOT UNITBallot Unit has to be prepared by ROInserting and fixing ballot paperMasking Candidate buttons with white color tabsSetting the slide switch at appropriate positions 1,2,3,4Sealing ballot unit in annexure XXX

Interlinking BU and CUFirst Ballot unit alone is plugged to the Control unitThe socket for connecting BU and CU is provided in the rear compartment of the CUPower switch in rear compartment of CU to ONConnecting the Ballot Units and interlinking BU and CU needs practice to avoid any damage to the machines

Control Unit - View of Bottom CompartmentPower SwitchBottom CompartmentCoverConnector forInterconnecting CableConnector for Auxiliary Unit22Power switch powers on / off the EVM

Connecter for connecting the Ballot unit with interconnecting cable

Auxiliary unit connector to connect second ballot unit in case of two simultaneous polls

Control Unit ON LampBusy LampDisplay SectionCandidate Set SectionResult SectionBallot SectionBallot ButtonTotal Button23On lamp glows when the unit is powered on.

Busy Lamp glows when a ballot is released and a voter is in the process of voting. After the casting the lamp goes off with a beep thus indicating that the vote is cast

Total button may be pressed at any given time to know the total no of votes polled till then

Ballot button pressing of this button releases a vote in the ballot unit and also results in the busy lamp glowing

Control Unit - Display Section4-DigitDisplay PanelON Lamp2-Digit Display PanelBusy LampControl Unit - Result Section

Result IbuttonInner latchesFrames forPaper sealClear buttonResult II buttonClose button25Close button:To close the poll at the end of the appointed period. Once this button is depressed no more votes can be cast on this machine

Result 1To view the results of poll 1

Result 2:To view the results of poll 2

Clear :Clears the data recorded in the voting machine operable only after the results are viewed at least once

Control Unit - Ballot Section

Total buttonBallot buttonPreparation of Control UnitInstallation of the batterySetting the number of contesting candidatesSealing that section of control unit called candidate set sectionRead Annexure XXXII and chapter 3 of EVM manual published by manufacturing company

Control Unit - Candidate Set SectionProvision forthread sealLatchPlug forpower packCandidate setbuttonCandidate set sectioninner doorCandidate set sectionouter doorProvision forThread sealPower packcompartment28Candidate set button: For setting the no of candidates in the poll. The Ballot unit and the control unit are connected and powered on. This button is pressed and the candidate button on the ballot unit corresponding to the last candidate is pressed. Dispatch to Polling StationsInform the Date and time of opening strong room to the candidates/agents

Delivery to Presiding OfficersBefore accepting EVM,PO s should checkMachine number on metal label and adhesive stickerPS number indicated on sticker with PS assigned in address tag.Any discrepancy shall be brought to the notice of concerned and reconciledALL the stages of randomization of EVMs shall be fully covered with videography and records maintained properlyImportant eventsFirst Randomization should be done after FLCSchedule for preparation of EVMs RO should fix between 3-5 days for each ACIn Parliamentary elections preparation of EVMs to be supervised by ARO.Completion - 8 to 10 days before the pollSAFE PRESERVATION OF PREPARED EVMsAll EVMs including reserve should be kept and preserved in safe custody of RO in a strong room under double lock duly sealed.Strong room to be opened only on appointed date and time when machines are to be supplied to polling parties.A proper logbook to be maintained giving details of closing and opening of strong roomIn emergency,if strong room to be opened,notice to be sent the candidatesStrong room to be guarded all the time under the supervision not below the rank of DSPMAINTENANCE OF RECORDS OF EVMs

Maintain complete record of all control units and Ballot units used at election in the form of Master REGISTERRecord should show no. of control units and ballot units with serial numbers including reserveEVMs used for training and demonstration purposes are not to be used for taking Poll on the Poll daySeparate Register for details of voting machines supplied to PO s with their names, assigned PS before Poll and after PollPOLLING MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR EVMs

List of Various Polling Materials Annexure VIIIForm 17A-Register of Voters under Rule 49L(1)

VOTERS SLIP

ADDRESS TAGS one for CU and one for BU. To be printed in sufficient quantity well in advanceSPECIAL TAG to seal inner door of the Result section of CU. Prepared at Govt Printing Press

Conduct of Mock Poll[Ref: ECI letter dated 19/01/2012Mock poll shall be conducted normally one hour before the scheduled hour of commencement of poll.All contesting candidates should be informed in writing well in advance in this regard.Polling agents of at least two candidates should be present at the time of Mock Poll. However, if polling agents of at least two candidates are not present, the Presiding Officer may wait for 15 more minutes.

Commencement of Mock pollCandidates may be advised to share the machine no. of EVM allotted to specific PS with their Polling agent(s) so that they are in a position to inspect EVM.PO s advised to display sticker containing the machine number to agents presentIn case of replacement, special report by SO mentioning number, reasons and deploymentMachines shall be escorted back after the poll to strong roomPlay the videoTHANK YOU