India, Sept. 1 -- As the Election Commission gets battle-ready to hold the high stakes assembly polls in five states, Uttar Pradesh and Goa have initiated 'first-level checks' on electronic voting machines and paper trail units to be used in polling.

During first level checks (FLCs), electronic voting machines and paper trail machines are checked for mechanical flaws by engineers of BEL and ECIL, the two PSUs that manufacture the two equipment.

Faulty machines are returned to the manufacturers for repair or replacement. A mock poll is also held to check the two machines in the presence of representatives of political parties.

The FLCs are an important part of poll preparedness. The EC issues a calendar which states have to follow and t...