Mizoram Creates History By Issuing 100 pc EPIC

By Linda Chhakchhuak
Aizawl, Nov 7 : Mizoram has created history by being the only State in the country to have completed the process of issuing Election Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) to 100 per cent voters.

“Mizoram’s electoral track record is the envy of every other State”, said the Election Commission of India in a poll-preparedness review Press conference here today.

The Commission members arrived here yesterday and left this morning. Commending the office of the State Chief Electoral Officer for this singular achievement, the full Election Commission of India, represented by VS Sampath, HS Brahma and Dr Syed Nasim Ahmad Zaidi said that this will go a long way in ensuring free, fair and peaceful elections. The EC called on the people of the State to create more history by “making this an unprecedented election in participation.”

The Election Commission of India was on a visit to review the poll preparedness of the State and held meetings with the State officials including the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police.

The ECI was, however, concerned with the poor road conditions to the polling stations which could hamper poll participation and shadow areas of communication. Sampath said that he had asked that these areas be given connectivity and the bad roads repaired on a war footing.

Another first in election history is that the ECI opened its doors to civil society organisations in its poll preparedness review meetings.

“The EC meets political parties for reviews but for the first time we met civil society organisations (CSOs) giving them equal time. This is a new experience for us. We record our special appreciation of the State CSOs for promoting ethics, values of free and fair elections and working for higher participation of voters,” said Sampath. He said that State Election officials have been instructed to work in tandem with them.

Mizoram would also be pioneering the use of Voters Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) in Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) in the general elections, said Sampath. It will be used in 10 Assembly constituencies in the Aizawl urban areas.