Non-functional VVPATs, EVMs irk voters in plains, hills

HARIDWAR/NAINITAL: Complaints were lodged at various places regarding non-functional VVPAT and

EVMs

during the course of polling on Thursday. While most of the complaints were regarding malfunctioning machines, BSP candidate for the

Haridwar

seat Antriksh Saini also raised questions on the credibility of VVPAT machines in some booths in his constituency. “In Niranjanpur area, slips of BJP were coming out from the machine although voters had pressed the button of other parties. What does that indicate?"


In Jiopoota village near

Kankhal

in Haridwar, EVMs stopped functioning for 45 minutes as a result of which several voters got restive and police personnel had to step in to placate the waiting voters.

At least five complaints of dysfunctional VVPAT machines were received in Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar constituency while polling was going on.

In Government Girls College,

Nainital

, voting starting at 8.33am instead of 7am due to dysfunctional VVPAT machines.

Naresh Pant, a voter at the booth, said, “We had to stand in queue for more than 90 minutes. We were told there were some technical issues with the EVMs. These issues should have been resolved speedily by the election officials.”

VK Suman, district magistrate of Nainital district told TOI, "We are looking into the delay in starting the voting process. An inquiry report will be submitted soon."