Understanding VVPATs and the Debate Around Their Use

What are VVPATs?

• Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines are integral to the voting process in India. When a vote is cast using an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), the VVPAT machine prints a paper slip displaying the voter’s choice. This slip is visible for seven seconds through a glass panel, allowing the voter to confirm their vote before it drops into a secured box.

Evolution of VVPATs

• The concept of VVPATs emerged in 2010 during discussions between the Election Commission (EC) and political parties to enhance transparency in the voting process. After extensive trials and feedback from stakeholders, the VVPAT design was approved in 2013. Subsequently, phased implementation began, with 100% coverage achieved during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Counting of VVPAT Slips

• Determining the percentage of VVPAT slips to be counted for verification purposes has been a contentious issue. The EC sought guidance from the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) to establish a statistically robust sample size. Initially, counting was set at one randomly selected polling station per Assembly constituency, later increased to five stations per seat following a Supreme Court ruling in 2019.

INDIA Alliance’s Demand for 100% Counting

• Recently, the INDIA alliance proposed 100% counting of VVPAT slips, advocating for a process where voters receive their slips to verify and then deposit them in a separate ballot box. They argue that this approach would bolster confidence in the fairness of elections.

EC’s Response

• The EC defended its current verification system, highlighting that out of 38,156 VVPATs checked in past elections, no instance of miscounting votes was detected. While acknowledging human errors like unremoved mock poll votes, it cautioned against reverting to manual counting due to its time-consuming nature and potential for errors.

Conclusion

• The debate over VVPAT verification intensifies as political stakeholders advocate for increased scrutiny to ensure the integrity of the electoral process. The EC emphasizes the efficiency of its current verification method while cautioning against a shift back to manual counting.