SEC to hold workshop on EVMs in Kochi

As the very first step towards conducting the Assembly polls, likely in April next year, the State Election Commission (SEC) will organise a workshop on the first-level check (FLC) of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPATs) in Kochi on Friday (December 19, 2025).

All 14 District Collectors, who are also district election officers, Deputy Collectors (Election), and FLC supervisors are expected to attend the event. Deputy Election Commissioner Sanjay Kumar will inaugurate the workshop.

The programme is aimed at imparting training to officials in preliminary checking of EVMs and VVPATs to ensure that they are functional. The training will be conducted on the basis of the manual on EVMs, and copies of the same are expected to be distributed to the officials concerned, official sources said.

Following the training, the process of FLC is likely to begin in districts by January 3. The process is expected to be completed in a few days. The checking will be conducted by district-level officials.

In Ernakulam, the process will be held at the EVM and VVPAT store room at the civil station in Kakkanad. FLC of EVMs and VVPATs for the local body polls held earlier this month was conducted in the district way back in July, the sources said.

Ahead of the workshop, the Deputy Election Commissioner called on District Collector G. Priyanka on Wednesday. Sub Collector Grandhe Sai Krishna and deputy collectors attended the meeting held at the Collector’s chamber.