The electronic voting machines (EVMs), which were used in the first-phase polls in 10 lok Sabha and 70 Assembly segments in the State, have been kept under tight and foolproof security at schools, colleges and other Government offices in the respective constituencies.
As per the Election Commission directive, the EVMs have been kept under double locks inside rooms that have a single door, sources said. While one key is with the official in charge of the room, the other is with an official of the rank of an Additional Collector. The EVM rooms, having uninterrupted power supply, are fitted with fire extinguishers and CCTV cameras and are under 24-hour watch of the CRPF personnel.
A senior police official and a gazetted officer have been entrusted to monitor security measures in and around the EVM rooms while the Returning Officer, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and Election Observers would supervise the arrangements at regular intervals, sources in the office of the CEO said. It added that temporary camps have been set up near the EVM centres for representativesof the party candidates.