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Lok Sabha Elections 2024, What is VVPAT: The first phase of Lok Sabha elections will start from April 19. The issue of VVPAT has already heated up. The Supreme Court said that it will soon hear the petition of opposition parties demanding 100 percent verification of VVPAT slips. What is VVPAT machine? (What is VVPAT)
VVPAT stands for Water Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). The VPAT machine is linked to the ballot unit of EVA. Immediately after voting, a slip of paper comes out from this machine. Through this slip you can verify your vote. The name, serial number and election symbol of the candidate for whom the vote has been given is printed on the slip.
This slip is visible behind the glass window in the VVPAT machine for seven seconds. Vote can be verified through this slip. After this the slip falls into the compartment below the VVPAT machine. In simple words, through VVPAT you will immediately know whether your vote has gone to the candidate for whom you voted in the EVM or not.
Does the voter get a VVPAT slip?
VVPAT slips are not available to voters and they cannot take them home with them, as the latter is used to verify votes randomly. According to the Election Commission, the idea behind physical verification of VVPAT is to ensure to both voters and political parties that voting is conducted in a transparent manner.
When was VVPAT system introduced?
The idea of VVPAT first came in the year 2010. At that time the Election Commission had said that such a system is needed to make the EVM based election process in India more transparent. At that time the Election Commission had also held a meeting with all the political parties. After this the Election Commission developed a prototype of VVPAT. In 2011, its field trials were conducted in Ladakh, Thiruvananthapuram, East Delhi and Jaisalmer. Trials were conducted in more states over the next few months. In February 2013, the Election Commission's expert committee finalized the design of the VVPAT. Later in the same year, the Election Rules, 1961 (Election Rules, 1961) were amended to add the provision of VVPAT.
When was it first used?
VVPAT was used for the first time in Nagaland Assembly elections in 2013 itself. Subsequently, the Election Panchayat introduced VVPAT in various elections and by 2017, VVPAT became mandatory in all elections at all levels.
How many VVPAT slips are counted at present?
In February 2018, the Election Commission made it mandatory to count VVPAT slips at one randomly selected polling station from each assembly constituency. Later in the year 2019, it was increased to five polling stations of each assembly seat. The decision at which of the five polling stations in an Assembly seat at which the VVPAT will be counted is decided by the concerned Returning Officer by holding a lottery in the presence of the candidates/their agents.
This dispute has been going on for a long time
VVPAT has long been the subject of controversy and legal battles. Earlier, Subramanian Swamy had gone to the Supreme Court on the issue of VVPAT. In this case, the Supreme Court ruled that the paper trail is essential for fair elections and the government must finance the VVPAT rolls. Then in the year 2019, Chandrababu Naidu went to the Supreme Court and demanded that at least 50% of the random VVPATs should be counted. Then the Election Commission had argued that if this was done, it would take at least 5 to 6 days to count the votes and get the results.
EC Cam 50% against VVPAT calculation
According to the Election Commission's earlier submission in the Supreme Court, it takes at least an hour for election officials to match the VVPAT slip of a polling station with the EVM. Because, the VVPAT slip can be counted only after the EVM vote of the concerned polling station is tabulated. In such a situation, there is a delay of 5 hours in the counting of five polling stations.
Why does the opposition demand counting of all the slips?
The opposition has been alleging election rigging and EVM tampering for a long time. He argues that for transparency in elections, VVPAT slips of more than five polling stations should be counted. Opposition parties argue that electoral fairness is more important than delaying election results. Opposition parties are demanding to increase the counting of VVPAT slips from 50 to 100 percent. Earlier in December, the opposition India Alliance had passed a resolution demanding 100% VVPAT count. He also demanded a discussion on this issue with Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar but the matter could not move forward.
