Image Source Mar 23, 2021 22:09 IST · 1 min read
Electronic Voting Machine (EVM)
Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) was invented by MB Haneefa in 1980 and was first used in 1982 in the by election to North Paravur Assembly Constituency of Kerala in 50 polling stations.The Election Commission of India (ECI) commissioned the EVMs in 1989 in collaboration with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL).
In December, 1988, the Parliament inserted a new section 61A in the Representation of the People Act, 1951 to empower the Election Commission of India (ECI) to use voting machines.
The amended provision came into force with effect from 15th March, 1989.
Since 2014, the EVMs have been used in all general and state assembly elections of India.
An Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) comprises of a control unit which is placed with the polling officer and a balloting unit which is placed inside the voting compartment.
The polling officer press the ballot button on the control unit to allow the voter to cast his vote - the voter cast his vote by pressing the blue button on the balloting unit against the candidate and symbol of his choice.
The EVMs are produced with secure manufacturing practices, and by design, are self-contained, battery-powered and lack any networking (no wireless or wired internet) capability.
Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT)
Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) is an independent verification system for voting machines designed to allow voters to verify that their vote was cast correctly, to detect possible election fraud or malfunction, and to provide a means to audit the stored electronic results.After a voter presses the button confirming their vote for their chosen candidate or NOTA, the VVPAT machine prints a slip containing the name of the candidate and the corresponding election symbol and automatically drops it in a sealed box.
The VVPAT is placed in a transparent glass case, allowing the voter to see the voter slip for about seven seconds, then it is dropped in the storage box.
The VVPAT can be accessed by the polling officials, but not by the voters.
The VVPAT slips are counted in a randomly-selected polling station in each Assembly constituency or Parliamentary constituency depending upon the nature of elections being held.