Tripura municipal elections on November 27 will be conducted without VVPATs as State Election Commission EVMs lack technical compatibility. SEC Secretary Anurag Sen clarified the arrangement while outlining preparations, including polling staff training and EVM commissioning scheduled for November 18–20.
The upcoming municipal elections in Tripura will be conducted without Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) facilities, as the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) deployed by the State Election Commission (SEC) are not technically compatible with the paper audit system. SEC Secretary Anurag Sen clarified this while addressing questions surrounding the absence of VVPATs in the November 27 civic polls.
Explaining the technical limitations, Sen stated that the EVMs used by State Election Commissions for conducting municipal and other local body elections are different from those deployed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) during parliamentary and Assembly elections.
According to the SEC Secretary, ECI-operated EVMs are designed to support VVPAT technology, allowing voters to verify their choices through a printed paper slip. However, the ballot units used by State Election Commissions for local self-government elections do not have the necessary technical facility to integrate with VVPAT devices.
He further clarified that the machines designated for the upcoming urban local body elections in Tripura are standard ballot units and cannot be connected to VVPAT systems. Consequently, voters will not have the facility of paper-based verification during the November 27 municipal elections.
Meanwhile, the State Election Commission has stepped up preparations to ensure the smooth, peaceful and orderly conduct of municipal elections across Tripura. Election authorities are undertaking several administrative and logistical measures to complete the necessary arrangements within the stipulated timeframe.
As part of the preparations, training programmes for election personnel have already commenced in different jurisdictions. According to Anurag Sen, Returning Officers are conducting training sessions for polling personnel who will be assigned election-related responsibilities.
The training exercises are intended to familiarise officials with established polling procedures, the operation and handling of EVMs, and other duties associated with conducting elections. The Commission is focusing on ensuring that polling personnel are adequately prepared to discharge their responsibilities on election day.
The SEC has also finalised a schedule for commissioning the EVMs ahead of polling. The commissioning process, which involves testing, verification and preparing the machines for deployment, is scheduled to take place between November 18 and November 20. The exercise is considered an important part of the Commission’s preparations to ensure the proper functioning of voting equipment during the elections.
In another important arrangement, the Commission is making provisions for polling personnel to exercise their democratic rights despite being assigned election duties. Since several officials engaged in election management are registered voters themselves, separate voting facilities will be arranged to enable them to cast their ballots.
Election authorities stated that such arrangements are routinely made to ensure that personnel deployed for polling responsibilities are not deprived of their voting rights because of official assignments.
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The State Election Commission has emphasised that all election-related activities are being carried out in accordance with established rules, procedures and guidelines. Training programmes, EVM commissioning and other logistical arrangements are progressing as scheduled.
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With the November 27 polling date approaching, the Commission is continuing its preparations to ensure the efficient conduct of the municipal elections across Tripura. The SEC has expressed confidence in its arrangements for conducting the civic polls in a free, fair, peaceful and orderly manner.
