Chandigarh, Nov. 11 -- In view of the forthcoming Punjab assembly elections, the first-level checking (FLC) of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines will commence across the state from Thursday. The Punjab assembly elections are due early next year. Punjab chief electoral officer (CEO) Anindita Mitra said the FLC of EVMs and VVPATs was an essential process prescribed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure that only fully functional and election-ready machines are used during the elections. She said as per the ECI guidelines, the check of EVMs and VVPAT machines is conducted under the supervision of the district election officer by authorised engineers of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). "Only those EVMs and VVPATs which successfully pass the FLC will be used in Vidhan Sabha elections," she informed in a press statement. All necessary arrangements have been made to ensure the smooth, transparent and systematic conduct of the FLC process. The FLC process will be conducted under the supervision of the district election officers concerned and will be monitored at the level of the CEO as well as the ECI. The CEO further said to ensure complete transparency and accountability throughout the process, live webcasting of the entire FLC process will be conducted at all 23 locations. Mitra urged all recognised political parties to authorise their representatives towitness the FLC process to strengthen transparency, build confidence among stakeholders and ensure that the entire process is carried out in a fair and impartial manner,...