Election Commission seeks report on VVPAT dispensing BJP slips in MP

The Election Commission on Saturday sought a report from poll authorities after media reports emerged that VVPAT was only dispensing BJP’s symbol slip during a demonstration exercise.

An Assembly by-poll is due in Bhind next week and the demonstration was part of the familiarisation exercise.

“We have sought a detailed report from district election officer and would come up with a response in the evening,” a Commission spokesperson said.

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The voters see Voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) slip for seven seconds, which would be an acknowledgement receipt for the party they voted for in the election.

VVPAT is a machine which dispenses a slip with the symbol of the party for which a person has voted for. The slip drops in a box but the voter cannot take it home.

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According to media reports, the receipt showed the vote going to BJP, irrespective of button pressed, during the demonstration.

The reports also claimed that Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Madhya Pradesh, Saleena Singh was seen telling journalists that the news should not appear in newspapers, else they would be detained at the police station.