News & Announcement
Final training concludes for Presiding and Polling Teams in Pakyong District
Pakyong, 12 April (IPR): The final training session for the Presiding and Polling Teams in Pakyong District, pertaining to the upcoming General Election 2024, was concluded today at the auditorium hall of Dikling Senior Secondary School. The objective of the training was to acquaint the officials with the voting procedures to ensure the conduct of a free and fair election.
Throughout the briefing, Mr Tashi Chophel, the District Election Officer cum District Collector of Pakyong, discussed a variety of topics, providing training examples for the officials' future reference.
He underscored the significance of presiding and polling officers being present the day before the polling day to familiarise themselves with their designated polling stations.
Furthermore, he emphasised the importance of including the establishment of all-women polling stations, efficient EVM (Electronic Voting Machine) management, and the importance of maintaining proper distance while carrying out duties. Additionally, the crucial aspect of ensuring continuity throughout the entire voting process was highlighted.
Moreover, the polling teams were directed to arrive early on the polling day, with mock polls slated to commence at 5:30 AM.
Emphasising the importance of communication, he urged the teams to stay in contact with the the respective Returning Officers, Sector Magistrate, and BLOs through a WhatsApp group, providing updates every two hours to address queries and prevent any confusion.
The confidence level of the officers were evaluated, with caution against complicating matters by interchanging Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) for both Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies. Participants were encouraged to seek clarification and address any ambiguities prior to the commencement of polling to ensure a smooth operation.
Additionally, the polling personnel were instructed to thoroughly understand the rules established by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the electoral process, with a focus on critical aspects such as the sealing process and the closing procedures for the machines on the poll day to avoid discrepancies and uphold the integrity of the electoral process.
Similarly, Ms Merina Rai, Joint Secretary of the Election Cell, elaborated on the significance of training for presiding and polling officers and their role on the day preceding the polling day.
She advised the team to install the Traccar App a day before the poll day, which is compatible with both Android and iPhone devices, allowing users to utilise their mobile devices as GPS trackers, transmitting location information to a designated server at predefined intervals.
Furthermore, the team was instructed to check the battery, date and time of the Control Unit's (CU) battery, date, and time. On the polling day, they were requested to report their arrival time in the WhatsApp group, display posters outside the booth for voter awareness, and address crucial topics such as VVPAT/EVM management, essential documentation, and the proper arrangement of polling booths.
As part of the training, practical demonstrations were conducted by Ms. Tenzing Pema, District Level Master Trainer (DLMT), to showcase the practical application of these procedures.
Moreover, hands-on training sessions were provided on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) to ensure that the polling teams were well-equipped with the necessary skills for the voting process.
Additionally, as part of the training, the Presiding Officers and Polling Officers received practical instruction on using the Traccar client app from AD IT Pakyong, Mr. Supratik Sharma, Mr. Sital Sharma, and Mr. Harka Bahadur Lamichaney.
The training session also saw the presence of Mr Pradeep Kumar IAS, the General Observer of Pakyong District; Ms Anupa Tamling, ADC of Pakyong; Mr Mahindra Chettri, SDM (HQ); Mr Sandesh Subba, SDM of Pakyong, along with officials from various departments.
Throughout the briefing, Mr Tashi Chophel, the District Election Officer cum District Collector of Pakyong, discussed a variety of topics, providing training examples for the officials' future reference.
He underscored the significance of presiding and polling officers being present the day before the polling day to familiarise themselves with their designated polling stations.
Furthermore, he emphasised the importance of including the establishment of all-women polling stations, efficient EVM (Electronic Voting Machine) management, and the importance of maintaining proper distance while carrying out duties. Additionally, the crucial aspect of ensuring continuity throughout the entire voting process was highlighted.
Moreover, the polling teams were directed to arrive early on the polling day, with mock polls slated to commence at 5:30 AM.
Emphasising the importance of communication, he urged the teams to stay in contact with the the respective Returning Officers, Sector Magistrate, and BLOs through a WhatsApp group, providing updates every two hours to address queries and prevent any confusion.
The confidence level of the officers were evaluated, with caution against complicating matters by interchanging Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) for both Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies. Participants were encouraged to seek clarification and address any ambiguities prior to the commencement of polling to ensure a smooth operation.
Additionally, the polling personnel were instructed to thoroughly understand the rules established by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the electoral process, with a focus on critical aspects such as the sealing process and the closing procedures for the machines on the poll day to avoid discrepancies and uphold the integrity of the electoral process.
Similarly, Ms Merina Rai, Joint Secretary of the Election Cell, elaborated on the significance of training for presiding and polling officers and their role on the day preceding the polling day.
She advised the team to install the Traccar App a day before the poll day, which is compatible with both Android and iPhone devices, allowing users to utilise their mobile devices as GPS trackers, transmitting location information to a designated server at predefined intervals.
Furthermore, the team was instructed to check the battery, date and time of the Control Unit's (CU) battery, date, and time. On the polling day, they were requested to report their arrival time in the WhatsApp group, display posters outside the booth for voter awareness, and address crucial topics such as VVPAT/EVM management, essential documentation, and the proper arrangement of polling booths.
As part of the training, practical demonstrations were conducted by Ms. Tenzing Pema, District Level Master Trainer (DLMT), to showcase the practical application of these procedures.
Moreover, hands-on training sessions were provided on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) to ensure that the polling teams were well-equipped with the necessary skills for the voting process.
Additionally, as part of the training, the Presiding Officers and Polling Officers received practical instruction on using the Traccar client app from AD IT Pakyong, Mr. Supratik Sharma, Mr. Sital Sharma, and Mr. Harka Bahadur Lamichaney.
The training session also saw the presence of Mr Pradeep Kumar IAS, the General Observer of Pakyong District; Ms Anupa Tamling, ADC of Pakyong; Mr Mahindra Chettri, SDM (HQ); Mr Sandesh Subba, SDM of Pakyong, along with officials from various departments.