The Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) devices used by the State Election Commission in as many as 35 polling stations of the total 265 polling stations in the election to the Khammam Municipal Corporation (KMC) on Sunday hogged limelight during the polling process.

This was perhaps the first time in India that VVPAT machines were used in local body elections, said official sources.

The Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) fitted with the VVPAT devices were used on an experimental basis in some of the polling stations in the civic body poll to enable the voters verify that their vote was cast correctly.

Initiative

Use of the VVPAT devices in the urban local body election is a great initiative, says Chidambareswara Rao, a voter who cast his vote using an EVM fitted with the VVPAT unit at a polling station in 23rd ward here on Sunday.

The VVPAT device helped me verify instantly that my vote was recorded correctly through the EVM, he said with a sense of contentment.

Accuracy of the

voting system

The VVPAT system will help spread awareness on the accuracy of the voting system and strengthen democracy, said another voter who exercised his franchise at the polling station near the University PG College in the town.