Indore: In last assembly elections, certain Electronic Voting Machines were found in hotel rooms in the state. This kicked off a controversy as Opposition parties cried foul and alleged that EVMs were tampered with. To keep this in check, district election office (DEO) has adopted a scientific way of course correction. In fact, it has decided to install GPS on all the 750 vehicles that will transport EVMs and other polling devices like control unit, Voter Verifiable Paper Trail (VVPAT) to polling booths. It will include vehicles carrying polling parties, sector officers and revenue officers. On May 16, the GPS will be put on all the vehicles at Lalbagh Palace.
The route of the each vehicle will be fixed in GPS and their movements will be monitored at control room. Sources said this initiative will eliminate the changes of taking the EVMs to places other than their scheduled destinations. If anyone attempts to do it, it will flash on the radar. Look, who’s watching the vote machines? 750 EVM-CARRYING VEHICLES TO BE GPS-MONITORED We have decided to put GPS on vehicles engaged in carrying polling parties, sector officers and revenue officers. We hope that the initiative will strengthen the safety of EVMs. On May 16, GPS will be put on all such vehicles. – Lokesh Kumar Jatav, district election officer
