Poll awareness campaign kicks off
The GHMC has decided to carry out extensive campaigns to raise awareness among voters on how to use them.
Hyderabad: A total of 5,170 voter verifiable paper audit trials (VVPAT) which will be used in the Assembly elections has reached the city. The GHMC has decided to carry out extensive campaigns to raise awareness among voters on how to use them.
In an attempt to educate and raise awareness among voters, the corporation has decided to deploy mobile polling stations, which would be a replica of the conventional polling stations. This would be done to demonstrate the entire voting process to the voters.
The mobile polling station would be equipped with all the materials, including the VVPAT system and staff involved in the voting exercise.
These stations would have five tables, including a Booth Level Officer with voters’ lists, indelible ink, voters’ slips, a control unit and the VVPAT system.
The idea is to demonstrate the entire exercise of voting to the residents and help them clear their doubts, if any, in the process.
Initially, one mobile polling station would be launched and it would cover different areas in all the 15 Assembly constituencies of Hyderabad district, GHMC commissioner M. Dana Kishore said.
In addition to the mobile polling stations, the GHMC was also working on training the staff and visually challenged voters.
The Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and VVPAT system are easy to operate and come with facilities to make things convenient for visually challenged voters.
The CEO said that the working process of the modernised and latest EVMs and VVPATs would be highlighted through publicity campaigns to the voters so that they got a clear knowledge of voting. With regard to Hyderabad district, Secunderabad, Khairatabad, Charminar zones, three mobile vans had been deployed for the purpose.
Besides, EVMs and VVPATs would also be provided for two wards where the demonstrations would be given at community halls, parks and ward offices to create awareness for this purpose.
The CEO has been requested to provide 100 EVMs and VVPATs. The first phase of verification of EVMs and VVPATs is currently being held at the Victory Play Ground, Chaderghat. This process would be completed in three to four days, the CEO added.
The GHMC is working on creating special awareness material in collaboration with the Devnar School for the Blind in Braille for visually challenged voters.
“Audio material explaining the process of voting for the convenience of visually challenged voters would be posted on the GHMC website,” he said.