Question

Which of the following are true regarding VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) in India?

1. VVPAT provides a physical slip to voters verifying their vote cast electronically.

2. The first pilot VVPAT use was in Nagaland in 2013.

3. Goa was the first state to use VVPAT in all assembly constituencies in 2017.

4. Kerala implemented VVPAT in 12 constituencies before nationwide implementation.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1, 2 and 3 only
• C. 1, 2, 3 and 4
• D. 2, 3 and 4 only

Answer 1

Answer:

C. 1, 2, 3 and 4

VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) in India

• The Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system serves as an independent verification mechanism for Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), enabling voters to confirm that their vote has been accurately recorded.

• Upon casting a vote on an EVM, a paper slip is generated by the VVPAT unit, displaying the serial number, name, and electoral symbol of the candidate for whom the vote was cast.

• This slip remains visible to the voter through a transparent window for approximately 7 seconds. After this short display, the slip automatically gets cut and falls into a sealed drop box attached to the VVPAT unit, which can only be accessed by authorized election officials.

• The core purpose of VVPAT is to provide a physical audit trail of the votes cast, thereby enhancing the transparency, verifiability, and credibility of the electoral process and increasing voter confidence.

• The implementation of VVPAT was a significant step towards addressing concerns regarding the integrity of electronic voting.

Historical Milestones and Implementation

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) first introduced the VVPAT system on a pilot basis in the Nagaland by-election in 2013. This trial run took place in the Noksen Assembly constituency of Nagaland, marking the initial practical deployment of the technology.

• Following successful trials, the VVPAT system was progressively rolled out across different states and union territories.

• Goa became the first state in India to implement VVPATs in all its assembly constituencies during the Goa Assembly Elections in 2017. This marked a major step towards universal adoption of the system in state elections.

• Prior to its nationwide implementation, Kerala was among the states where VVPATs were introduced in a phased manner, specifically in 12 constituencies during an earlier phase of rollout. This was part of the ECI's strategy to gradually familiarize voters and election machinery with the new technology before full-scale deployment.

• The use of VVPATs was mandated nationwide by the Supreme Court and subsequently implemented for all Lok Sabha constituencies in the 2019 General Elections, making it an integral part of the Indian electoral system.

Key Facts for Competitive Exams

• The legal backing for VVPATs was provided by an amendment to the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, in 2013.

• The paper slips collected in the VVPAT drop boxes serve as a crucial audit trail. In case of a discrepancy between the EVM count and the VVPAT slip count, the VVPAT count is given precedence, as per ECI guidelines.

• The Supreme Court of India has played a pivotal role in the expansion of VVPAT use, directing the ECI to increase the percentage of VVPAT slip verification. Initially, 1 VVPAT per assembly constituency was verified; this was later increased to 5 randomly selected VVPATs per assembly constituency (or assembly segment in a Lok Sabha constituency) following a Supreme Court directive in April 2019.

• VVPATs are manufactured by two public sector undertakings: Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bengaluru, and Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), Hyderabad.