Silchar, Assam: The preparatory phase for the upcoming General Election to the Assam Legislative Assembly, 2026, has officially begun in Silchar with the commencement of the First Level Checking (FLC) of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units.
The crucial exercise is being held at the dedicated EVM and VVPAT Warehouse on Club Road, Silchar, and is scheduled to run daily from December 11 to December 23, 2025, between 9 am and 7 pm, under stringent security measures.
Ensuring Utmost Transparency
Cachar’s District Election Officer, Mridul Yadav IAS, highlighted the District Administration’s commitment to a free, fair, and transparent electoral process. Addressing representatives from recognized political parties, he detailed the strict guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) mandated by the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Chief Electoral Officer, Assam.
The entire FLC process is being conducted in the unwavering presence of political party representatives and authorized election officials.
The opening of the warehouse and the inspection of stored machines are undertaken jointly with all stakeholders.
To ensure accountability, separate identity cards are issued for entry, and continuous absence of a party representative for three consecutive days will trigger a formal notice.
Adding another layer of confidence, the entire FLC exercise is being webcast live and monitored remotely by the Chief Electoral Officer, Assam, and the ECI.
Rigorous Checking and Accountability
Engineers from the Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) are executing the FLC, adhering to a detailed protocol designed for meticulous scrutiny:
Defective machines are clearly distinguished with red stickers, while fully functional units are marked with green stickers.
Pink paper seals—a critical security feature—are being jointly signed by the political party representatives and authorized officials.
A robust stress test involves a random selection of five per cent of EVMs undergoing an extensive test run with a high volume of votes to verify performance under simulated polling conditions.
Upon successful completion of the FLC, all functional EVMs and VVPATs will be securely moved back into the locked strong room, again in the presence of political party representatives and election officials. Defective units will be sent back to Hyderabad, following specific instructions from the competent authority, thereby reinforcing procedural accountability in the run-up to the 2026 Assembly Elections.
