Election Commission’s direction specifying that the votes at the current Bye-election to Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from 98. Erode (East) Assembly Constituency shall be given and recorded by means of Electronic Voting Machines and VVPAT

No. 63] CHENNAI, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2023 Thai 27, Subakiruthu, Thiruvalluvar Aandu–2054

Part V—Section 4

Notification by the Election Commission of India

NOTIFICATION BY THE ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA

DIRECTION BY THE ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA

ELECTION COMMISSION'S DIRECTION SPECIFYING THAT THE VOTES AT THE CURRENT BYE-ELECTION TO TAMIL NADU LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FROM 98. ERODE (EAST) ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCY SHALL BE GIVEN AND RECORDED BY MEANS OF ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES AND VVPAT

No. SRO G-7/2023.

The following Direction of the Election Commission of India, Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi-110 001, dated 8th February, 2023 is published:-

No.576/3/EVM/2023/SDR-Vol.-I:- Whereas, Section 61A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, provides that the giving and recording of votes by voting machines in such manner as may be prescribed, may be adopted in such constituency or constituencies as the Election Commission of India may, having regard to the circumstances of each case, specify;

2. Whereas, as per the proviso to Rule 49A of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, a printer with a drop box of such design, as may be approved by the Election Commission of India, may also be attached to voting machine for printing a paper trail of the vote, in such constituency or constituencies or parts thereof as the Election Commission of India may direct;

3. Whereas, the Election Commission has considered the circumstances in all the Constituencies for the General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Meghalaya, Nagaland & Tripura announced vide the Election Commission's Press Note No. ECI/PN/01/2023 dated 18th January, 2023 and bye-elections to 01-Lumla (ST) Assembly Constituency of Arunachal Pradesh, 23-Ramgarh Assembly Constituency of Jharkhand, 98-Erode (East) Assembly Constituency of Tamil Nadu, 60-Sagardighi Assembly Constituency of West Bengal and 215-Kasba Peth & 205-Chinchwad Assembly Constituencies of Maharashtra announced vide the Election Commission's Press Note No. ECI/PN/02/2023 dated 18th January, 2023 and is satisfied that sufficient number of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Printers for printing Paper Trail [Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT)] are available for taking the poll in the above said Assembly Constituencies and all the Assembly Constituencies of Meghalaya, Nagaland & Tripura, the polling personnel are well trained in efficient handling of EVMs and 'VVPAT Printers' and the electors are also fully conversant with the operation of the EVMs and the VVPAT Printers;

4. Now, therefore, the Election Commission of India, in exercise of its powers under the said Section 61A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Rule 49A of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, hereby specifies all the Assembly Constituencies of Tripura notified on 21-01-2023, all the Assembly Constituencies of Meghalaya & Nagaland and 01-Lumla (ST) Assembly Constituency of Arunachal Pradesh, 23-Ramgarh Assembly Constituency of Jharkhand, 98-Erode (East) Assembly Constituency of Tamil Nadu, 60-Sagardighi Assembly Constituency of West Bengal, 215-Kasba Peth & 205-Chinchwad Assembly Constituencies of Maharashtra notified on 31-01-2023, as the constituencies in which the votes, shall be given and recorded by means of EVMs and VVPAT printers in the manner prescribed, under the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, and the supplementary instructions issued by the Election Commission from time to time on the subject.

5. The Election Commission also hereby approves the design of EVMs and VVPAT Printers as developed by the Bharat Electronics Ltd., Bangalore and Electronics Corporation of India Ltd., Hyderabad, which shall be attached to the said machines, to be used for the giving and recording of votes in all the Constituencies.

(By Order)

S.B. Joshi,

Principal Secretary,

Election Commission of India.

SATYABRATA SAHOO, Chief Electoral Officer and Principal Secretary to Government, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009, 10th February 2023.

Public (Elections) Department.