T’puram: Distribution of electronic voting machines (EVMs) for assembly election will begin in the district on Saturday, marking the first key step in poll preparations.The EVMs, which were secured in the strong room at collectorate after completion of the first-stage randomization, will be handed over to the respective returning officers of each constituency. The formal inauguration of the distribution process will be carried out by district election officer and district collector Anu Kumari at 9.30am. The first set of machines will be handed over to Varkala returning officer Kabani S at collectorate strong room. Officials said the EVMs will now be shifted to temporary strong rooms set up across all 14 assembly constituencies in the district, where they will remain under tight security until further procedures are completed. Election authorities have scheduled the second stage of randomization for Tuesday. This process will be conducted at the constituency level to allocate machines to specific polling stations. The exercise will take place in the presence of candidates, their authorized representatives, and general observers to ensure transparency and fairness in the electoral process. Randomization of EVMs is a crucial procedure mandated by election commission to prevent any possibility of tampering or bias. By assigning machines to constituencies and polling booths through a computerized random process in multiple stages, officials aim to uphold the integrity of the voting system.
