Bihar: A large number of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips were discovered discarded near SR College in Shitalpatti village, Samastipur district, prompting immediate action from the Election Commission of India (ECI). The slips were traced back to mock polls conducted prior to the first phase of voting on Thursday.
In response, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar instructed the Samastipur District Magistrate (DM) to inspect the site and conduct a thorough inquiry. The ECI confirmed that while the incident involved mock poll materials and did not compromise the integrity of the polling process, the Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) responsible has been suspended for negligence, and an FIR is being registered.
Local residents alerted authorities after spotting the scattered VVPAT slips near the college premises. A preliminary investigation confirmed the materials were linked to pre-poll mock tests conducted on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
District Magistrate and District Election Officer Roshan Kushwaha stated that the slips were found in the commissioning and dispatch centre of the Sarairanjan Assembly segment. “Among the large number of shredded slips, a few unshredded ones were also discovered. These have been seized, and an FIR is being filed against those responsible for the lapse. The investigation will determine the exact nature of the recovered slips,” he said.
Kushwaha elaborated on the process, explaining that during commissioning, mock polls are conducted on 5 percent of the voting machines, with around 1,000 votes cast per machine for testing purposes. Additionally, each candidate’s button is pressed to verify correct symbol allocation. These exercises generate a significant number of VVPAT slips, some shredded and some unshredded. The improper disposal of these materials is now under investigation.
The ECI emphasized that while procedural lapses occurred, the mock poll slips do not affect the legitimacy of the elections. Meanwhile, political reactions were swift. The RJD tweeted strong criticism, questioning the circumstances under which the slips were discarded and calling on authorities to explain the incident.
District authorities have launched a detailed inquiry to ascertain how and why the slips were mishandled. The findings are expected to be submitted to the Election Commission soon, as the investigation continues into this unusual electoral oversight.