Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail Machines (VVPAT)

  • 14 Apr 2019

Why is it in News?

Major opposition parties have decided to approach the Supreme Court for the demand of verification of at least 50% of VVPAT machines with EVMs.

Relevance of Topic for Prelims 2019:

Due to the frequent issues and objections involved with EVMs & VVPAT, candidates are expected to know about facts related to VVPAT.

About VVPAT:

  • Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trial (VVPAT) is an independent system attached to an EVM that allows the voters to verify that their votes are cast as intended.
  • Voters can see the printout but not take it out; VVPAT helps him in verifying that his vote was registered correctly.
  • Rule 49A of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, provides that every EVM shall have a control unit and a balloting unit. Under this provision, the Election Commission of India has provided for the VVPATs in the election process.

How it Works?

  • When a vote is cast, a slip is printed on the VVPAT printer containing the serial number, name and symbol of the candidate voted.
  • This remains visible to the voter through a transparent window for 7 seconds.
  • Thereafter, this printed slip automatically gets cut and falls into a sealed drop box.
  • VVPAT’s use thermal printers and print lasts for around 5years.
  • These slips can be used for tallying by the ECI in later stage of time if needed.

Who makes VVPAT?

  • VVPATs are made by only two public sector units namely- Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) in consultation with experts from Election Commission of India.

When was VVPAT first used?

  • VVPATs were first used in the by-election for the ‘Noksen Assembly’ seat in Nagaland in 2013.
  • In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, VVPATs are being used in all the constituencies and all the EVMs.

Why is the ECI opposed to 50% verification of VVPATs?

  • As per ECI, this whole process will lead to delay in the result declaration by minimum 6 days.
  • ECI has opined that this will unnecessarily create infrastructural burden and wastage of manpower & resources of the organisation and country as a whole.

About Electronic Voting Machine (EVM):

EVMs are standalone machines that are designed to connect Ballot Unit, Control Unit & VVPATs through a cable wire system.

There is no mechanism in EVMs to communicate with any device through wireless communication or any radio frequency.


Source: eci.gov.in, TH