Rumour on EVM via WhatsApp can land you in jail

EVMs have been proved as tamper proof devices and those spreading rumours related to EVMs during the time of polling will be punished as per the provisions of Representation of People’s Act and Indian Penal Code Section 177, Sahoo said.

As per the IPC Section 177, whoever, being legally bound to furnish information on any subject to any public servant is found to be false shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.

In case if a voter notices that there are contradictions in the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), a method of providing feedback to voters using a ballot- less voting system, then the voter can register the complaint to the presiding officer in the polling station for further action, the CEO explained.

Commenting about the poll arrangements underway, Sahoo said, so far 7.50 lakh new applications seeking inclusion of names in voters roll, correction and deletion have been received during the recent week end special camps conducted on February 23 and 24. The received applications are under scrutiny and the election department had also started printing the new voter ID cards for those who had enrolled as new voters. The voters can lodge the complaints through 1950 helpline. Since January the helpline has received 2546 calls and 947 complaints have been addressed, the CEO added.