A first: EVMs with paper trail

• Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) will be used in 35 out of total 117 Assembly constituencies in Punjab
• Punjab CEO VK Singh said on Wednesday VVPATs would be used keeping in mind sensitivity of the constituency. “VVPATs will be preferably used at the district headquarters during the polls,” he added
• VVPAT is a method of providing feedback to voters. It is attached to the electronic voting machine (EVM) to help electors verify that their vote has been cast correctly
• He said an assistant commissioner of income tax would be stationed in each district.

EC lists dos and don’ts 

• Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Nasim Zaidi on Wednesday announced putting up of four posters at each polling station, informing the voters of locations of booths
• “The posters are a statutory requirement at all polling stations,” he said. A voting assistance booth would also be kept at the polling stations
• Taking note of complaints received by the EC in the previous elections, the CEC said the height of the voting compartment would be raised to 30 inches this time. 
• This has been done to conceal the upper part of the body of the voters, the movement of which might giveaway the button they were pressing 

Colourful voter guide for first time 

• The EC is set to roll out a colourful voter guide for the first time
• “A colourful voter guide with photo voter’s slip will be introduced for the first time,” Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi told the media in Delhi on Wednesday

People of Punjab will vote for growth and elect a stable government, which only Akali-BJP coalition can provide. Surveys have given the combine 34% vote share. —  Sukhbir Singh Badal, sad president

We welcome the decision to hold elections in a single phase in Punjab. This time, a resurgent Congress will give a befitting reply to its opponents in the poll arena. — Capt Amarinder Singh, punjab congress president

The names of candidates for all 23 seats that BJP is contesting have  been forwarded to party’s central parliamentary board and an announcement is expected any time now. — Vijay Sampla, state bjp president

The people of Punjab are getting impatient to root out the Akali-BJP coalition and want to bring in the honest AAP to help rid people of drug menace and corruption. —  Arvind Kejriwal, aap convener