The First Level Checking (FLC) of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) has begun in Dima Hasao, Assam, for the 2026 Legislative Assembly elections. The process, running from January 2 to 8, involves technical verification by ECIL engineers and is conducted in the presence of political party representatives to ensure transparency. Officials emphasize this is a crucial step for functional and reliable machines, with district authorities committed to fair and transparent elections.