Wed Dec 17 18:19:25 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text:

Summary:

The State Election Commission (SEC) is preparing for upcoming Assembly polls, likely in April 2026. As a first step, they are organizing a workshop on December 19, 2025, in Kochi to train officials on conducting the first-level check (FLC) of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter verifiable paper audit trails (VVPATs). All 14 District Collectors and other relevant officials are expected to attend. Following the workshop, the FLC process will begin in districts, with Ernakulam conducting theirs at the civil station in Kakkanad. The Deputy Election Commissioner has already met with the District Collector of Ernakulam to discuss the preparations.

News Article:

Kerala Prepares for Assembly Polls with EVM/VVPAT Check Workshop

KOCHI, December 17, 2025 – In anticipation of the upcoming Assembly elections expected in April 2026, the State Election Commission (SEC) is taking proactive steps to ensure the integrity and functionality of its electronic voting infrastructure. A crucial workshop focusing on the first-level check (FLC) of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter verifiable paper audit trails (VVPATs) will be held in Kochi this Friday, December 19, 2025.

The workshop, inaugurated by Deputy Election Commissioner Sanjay Kumar, will bring together all 14 District Collectors (who also serve as district election officers), Deputy Collectors (Election), and FLC supervisors from across the state. The aim is to train officials in the preliminary inspection of EVMs and VVPATs, ensuring they are fully operational and compliant with SEC standards. Training will be based on the official EVM manual.

Following the workshop, the FLC process is expected to commence in individual districts by January 3, 2026, and be completed within a few days. In Ernakulam, the verification will take place at the EVM and VVPAT storage facility located in the civil station in Kakkanad. A previous FLC for local body polls was conducted in July.

Preparations are already underway. The Deputy Election Commissioner met with Ernakulam District Collector G. Priyanka on Wednesday to discuss the logistics and procedures for the upcoming workshop and district-level checks.

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