The Election Commission of India (ECI) as per set standards has made voting by EVM and VVPAT fully confidential, said Chhattisgarh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Subrat Sahoo on Monday.
He assured the electors that their vote will be kept totally confidential. As per Conduct of Election Rules 1961, rule 49 (l) there is permission to cast the vote but Rule 49 (m) states that for the person exercising the franchise, it is also mandatory to keep confidentiality, Sahoo said.
Therefore a compartment had been made where the EVM/VVPAT is installed and elector has to cast his/her vote in it, he said.
The VVPAT holds the slip for seven seconds where the number of candidate, name and election symbol can be seen after which the slip cut offs and falls in drop box.
In case of Persons with Disabilities and blind persons, the assisting person along with polling agents has to maintain the confidentiality. If this is violated, then there is provision of three month’s imprisonment.
Sahoo pointed out that use of mobile phone and other electronic equipment are banned inside the polling centres. In polling centres , web-cameras have been installed, he said.
