Ahmedabad: The Election Commission of India (ECI) Tuesday said the decision to use voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines in the upcoming assembly polls in Gujarat has been welcomed by political parties.
Addressing a press conference in Ahmedabad, chief election commissioner (CEC) A. K. Joti said as many as 55,000 polling stations will be set up for the assembly elections in Gujarat that has 43.3 million voters.
“Gujarat is the first large state where an entire assembly poll will be conducted using the EVMs (electronic voting machines) equipped with VVPAT,” Gujarat chief electoral officer (CEO) B.B. Swain said.
These VVPAT machines will allow voters to verify if their vote has gone to the intended candidate, ensuring transparency in the voting process, he added.
ECI officials are on a two-day visit to the state to review preparations for the elections to Gujarat legislative assembly that are due to be held by December.
“Political parties have welcomed the decision for introduction of VVPAT during Gujarat assembly polls,” CEC Joti said, adding that the commission had assured all parties that it will to look into their demands for conduct of free and fair elections.