The District Election Officer of North Tripura District will conduct the first randomization of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units for the upcoming bye-election to the 56-Dharmanagar Assembly Constituency on March 20.

In a press note issued by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Tripura said that the process will be carried out using the EVM Management System (EMS) in the presence of representatives from all National and State Recognised Political Parties. Following the randomization, the lists of EVMs and VVPATs allocated to each Assembly Constituency will be shared with all political parties at the district headquarters.

The report said that subsequently, these machines will be handed over to the respective Returning Officers and stored in the Assembly Strong Rooms under strict supervision, again in the presence of party representatives. Once the final list of contesting candidates is finalized, the allocation details of the first randomized EVMs and VVPATs will also be shared with them.

This step is part of the Election Commission’s prescribed procedure, as detailed in the Manual on Electronic Voting Machines.