Mock poll error in Kerala: 990 votes to be counted separately in Thrikaripur

Kasaragod: In a key development during vote counting in the Kerala Assembly election, officials confirmed that 990 votes from a booth in Thrikaripur will not be counted in the first phase due to a mock poll-related error.

The issue arose at booth number 47 in a government school in the constituency, where mock poll votes cast before the start of actual polling were not cleared from the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM). To avoid inaccuracies, election authorities decided to exclude the machine’s vote count during the initial rounds.

Officials clarified that although the EVM still contains mock poll data, the slips from the VVPAT unit were properly removed after the mock poll. This ensures that only actual votes cast by voters remain in the paper trail system.

To determine the final vote count for this booth, authorities will carry out a full counting of VVPAT slips after completing the EVM counting process. Alongside the routine verification of slips from five randomly selected booths, this booth has been marked for complete VVPAT verification due to the discrepancy.

Around 50 votes were cast during the mock poll, and these have been separately sealed and documented. A mock poll certificate detailing these votes has also been prepared and shared with candidates’ agents.

Election officials informed all candidates about the issue and obtained the necessary certification to ensure transparency in the counting process.

The situation underscores the importance of strictly following mock poll procedures, which are designed to test EVM functionality before voting begins, to avoid complications during counting.