Kerala's Chief Electoral Officer Praises Successful Lok Sabha Election

The Chief Electoral Officer of Kerala, Sanjay Kaul, has declared the Lok Sabha election process in the state as highly satisfactory. Kaul highlighted that the voting machines performed exceptionally well, resulting in efficient voting procedures. Despite some delays in a few polling booths, officials ensured accuracy and vigilance throughout the voting process.

According to Kaul, 95 percent of the state's 25,231 polling booths had completed voting by 6 pm, with 99 percent finishing by 8 pm on the election day. However, in the Vadakara constituency, polling continued beyond 8 pm due to increased voter turnout after 5 pm. Officials took necessary precautions to verify records, leading to the extended polling duration in those specific areas.

An innovative method was introduced for the first time to prevent external interference in the election process. The allocation of election officials was impartially conducted using order software, ensuring fair deployment of officers without any external influence.

The performance of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in this election was commendable, with only 0.44 percent of ballot units and control units, and 2.1 percent of VVPATs being damaged. This marks a significant improvement in the reliability of EVMs compared to previous elections, where the failure rate was notably higher.

In conclusion, the successful conduct of the Lok Sabha election in Kerala reflects the enhanced efficiency and reliability of the voting process, attributed to the improved performance of EVMs and the meticulous efforts of election officials.