According to sources, the Election Commission has started first level checks of EVMs and paper trail machines across the country in a gradual way ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and five assembly elections that are scheduled to take place by the end of this year.The officials of the Election Commission claimed that mock polls constitute a step in the first level check (FLC) procedure. It is a nationwide exercise in India. All Kerala constituencies will participate in first-level checks, which would be conducted nationwide in phases.The election commission official also said that a mock election that was being held in Keralas Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, which became empty as a result of Congressman Rahul Gandhis disqualification following his conviction in a criminal defamation case in March by a sessions court in Surat.The election commission explained that they maintain a calendar for such exercises and they also direct the state chief electoral officers to follow the guidelines and instructions.The official noted that first-level checks would also be held in the five states that would be holding elections Rajasthan, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh as well as in the assembly and parliamentary constituencies that would be holding byelections.Vacant Lok Sabha seats include those in Wayanad, Pune, and Chandrapur (all in Maharashtra), Ghazipur (in Uttar Pradesh), and Ambala (in Haryana)Engineers from BEL and ECIL, the two PSUs that produce the two pieces of equipment, examine paper trail and electronic voting machines for mechanical defects during FLCs. Machines that are broken are sent back to the makers for maintenance or replacement.Additionally, in the presence of members of the political parties, a simulated election is organised to test the devices.
