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Samastipur Poll Mystery: How Mock Vote Slips Sparked Swift EC Action

The Election Commission swiftly addressed concerns about VVPAT slips found outside a Samastipur polling station. CEC Gyanesh Kumar clarified these were only from the mandatory mock poll conducted before actual voting began. An ARO was suspended for protocol violation after delegating waste clearance to a junior official. The EC has now implemented stricter measures including biometric verification for mock poll disposal to prevent future incidents.

Key Points: CEC Assures Poll Integrity After Samastipur Mock Slip Incident

  • ARO suspended for failing to ensure proper disposal of mock poll material
  • District Magistrate conducted immediate on-ground inquiry confirming slips from 5:30 AM mock poll
  • CCTV footage showed sanitation worker accidentally scattered slips outside restricted zone
  • EC mandates biometric verification and GPS tagging for future mock poll disposal
  • Voting resumed normally with 68% turnout, above constituency average
  • Technical team conducted fresh VVPAT-EVM matching with 100% reconciliation
2 min read

CEC assures polling integrity after mock poll slip confusion in Samastipur; ARO suspended

CEC Gyanesh Kumar confirms Samastipur VVPAT slips were from mock polls only. ARO suspended for protocol violation as EC reinforces election integrity measures.

"The integrity of the polling process remains fully uncompromised - EC sources quoting CEC Gyanesh Kumar"

New Delhi, Nov 8

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Saturday issued a swift clarification regarding the discovery of VVPAT slips outside a polling station in Sariranjan of Bihar's Samastipur state assembly constituency, emphasising that the incident involved only mock poll slips and posed no threat to the electoral process, sources said.

"The integrity of the polling process remains fully uncompromised," EC sources said, quoting Kumar.

The sources said that the District Magistrate (DM) of Samastipur was immediately directed to visit the spot and conduct an on-ground inquiry.

"Our preliminary probe confirmed these were VVPAT slips from the mandatory mock poll conducted at 5.30 a.m. before actual voting commenced," District Magistrate Roshan Kumar said.

As per Election Commission protocol, 50 mock votes are cast in the presence of polling agents to verify EVM-VVPAT functionality, after which slips are cleared and destroyed under CCTV surveillance.

"The investigation into the matter has been initiated," Kumar added.

"The ARO failed to ensure proper disposal of mock poll material as per ECI guidelines. He is being placed under immediate suspension, and an FIR is being registered under Section 188 (disobedience of a public servant's order) of the IPC," EC sources said.

The sources confirmed the ARO, a senior Bihar Administrative Service officer, had left the booth briefly post-mock poll, delegating waste clearance to a junior official who mistakenly discarded the slips outside the 100-metre restricted zone.

CCTV footage from 6.12 a.m. shows a sanitation worker sweeping the area, inadvertently scattering the slips. ECI's technical team conducted a fresh VVPAT-EVM matching exercise at the booth, with 100 per cent reconciliation witnessed by agents.

Voting resumed normally by 9.30 a.m., recording 68 per cent turnout by 5 p.m. - above the constituency average.

The Election Commission has now mandated biometric verification of mock poll disposal and real-time GPS tagging of waste bins at sensitive booths.

"Every slip, every vote, every doubt - addressed with evidence," said the CEC, reinforcing public faith ahead of the final phase on November 11.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While I appreciate the quick clarification, this incident shows how fragile public trust can be. The EC needs to ensure better training for all polling staff. The new biometric verification rule is a welcome step though!
A
Arjun K
Transparency is key in elections. The fact that they conducted fresh VVPAT-EVM matching and got 100% reconciliation should put all doubts to rest. Better safe than sorry! 🇮🇳
S
Sarah B
As an election observer, I must say the EC's response was textbook perfect. Immediate inquiry, suspension of responsible officer, and additional safeguards - this is how electoral integrity is maintained. Well done!
V
Vikram M
The sanitation worker who accidentally scattered the slips - hope he doesn't face any trouble. Sometimes junior staff bear the brunt for senior officers' negligence. The system needs to be more humane.
K
Kavya N
68% turnout despite the confusion shows that Bihar voters are committed to their democratic duty! That's the real story here - people's faith in the process remains strong 💪

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