Page 285 - Leap of Faith Vol - 2

Epilogue

elec on. The procedural certain es are hallmark of the The polling staff follows a discipline of the army. They are
Elec on Commission's func oning. The protocol for drawn from amongst the government employees,
conduc ng elec ons is methodical, predictable and whether Central or State. Their impar ality, efficiency
transparent with li le scope for errors and misfeasance. and dedica on to duty was recognised during the First

Take for instance, the protocol perfected in respect of the General Elec ons itself. They have lived up to that
assets like the EVM and VVPAT units. Everything including reputa on ever since. Many inspiring stories emerge out
storage and transporta on, two-stage randomisa on of every general elec on as to how they have crossed the
before being put into use for polling; safety of votes in case mountains, braved through the jungles, walked tens of
of any malfunc oning; their being transported back to the miles on non-motorised pathway with loads of elec on
strong room and coun ng of votes is all procedure-bound. material, sailed across rivers and bays to set up polling
The instruc ons are so me culous that there is li le room booths in remote areas so that even a handful of voters
for arbitrariness or doubt. living there are not deprived of their right to vote.

Commission at Present- CEC Rajiv Kumar, EC Anup Chandra Pandey (L), EC Arun Goel (R)

267