The use of voter-verified paper audit trail will be piloted in one ward during the municipal elections in Nanded-Waghala Municipal Corporation next week, ANI reported, quoting the Maharashtra State Election Commission.
Elections for the municipal body are due on October 11. The new VVPAT system will be used alongside electronic voting machines in the 37 polling stations of ward number 2, the election body said.
Earlier, the state government had released around Rs 92 lakh to buy 300 VVPAT machines for the civic body polls, PTI had reported in September.
After Assembly elections in multiple states this year, some Opposition parties had claimed that electronic voting machines were rigged in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The VVPAT machines are seen as a way to ensure credibility in the voting process. Voting machines connected to VVPAT dispense a slip with the symbol of the party the voter has chosen on the EVM, which proves that the machine has recorded the vote.
Political outfits who had attended an all-party meeting in May, had recommended that VVPAT be used in all future polls.
The VVPAT system may also be used in upcoming Assembly elections.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!