Perundurai bypoll: First-level checks of EVMs begin

Published 16 June 2026 · politics

The first-level checking (FLC) of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units to be used for the bye-election to the

The first-level checking (FLC) of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units to be used for the bye-election to the Perundurai Assembly constituency, for which the date is yet to be announced, commenced in Erode district on Tuesday (June 16, 2026). The bypoll was necessitated after S. Jayakumar of the AIADMK, who won the Assembly election held this April by defeating Thoppu Venkatachalam alias N.D. Venkatachalam of the DMK by a margin of 9,693 votes, resigned his seat and joined the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) within two weeks of being elected.

The constituency has an electorate of 2,14,431 and recorded a voter turnout of 92.47% in the 2026 Assembly election. District Election Officer and Collector S. Kandasamy inaugurated the exercise at the EVM warehouse located on the premises of the Revenue Divisional Office. Officials said the verification process would be carried out over five days. Six engineers from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) have been engaged to inspect the EVMs and VVPAT units proposed for use in the bypoll. The checking is being conducted in the presence of representatives of recognised political parties and in accordance with the guidelines of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Arrangements, including a static Internet Protocol (IP) facility, have been made to enable monitoring by the Chief Electoral Officer and the ECI. Police security has also been provided at the warehouse. Officials said the functionality, technical fitness and usability of the machines were being examined as part of the FLC process. The secure warehouse was opened in the presence of political party representatives before the commencement of the exercise. A total of 584 Ballot Units, 584 Control Units and 584 VVPAT units are being verified for use in 292 polling stations in the constituency, representing 200% of the required number of machines.

Following the completion of the FLC, mock polls will be conducted on machines selected in accordance with ECI guidelines and in the presence of representatives of political parties. Officials said all election-related preparatory work was being undertaken in a transparent manner and in compliance with ECI norms. Among those present were Assistant Director of Town Panchayats Venkatesan, Personal Assistant (Elections) to the Collector Maheswari, Tahsildar Shanmuga Sundaram, officials of various departments and representatives of recognised political parties.