EVM–VVPAT Randomisation in Elections

Prelims: Current events of national importance | Indian Polity and Governance

Why in News?

First randomisation of EVM–VVPATs completed for Assembly Elections in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry.

EVM Randomisation – It is a digital process of randomly allocating EVMs and VVPATs to constituencies and polling stations to eliminate human bias.
Aim –Ensure free, fair, and transparent elections.
Prevent tampering, bias, or pre-determined allocation of machines.
Maintain neutrality and credibility of electoral process.
Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) - EVM is a device used to electronically record and count votes, designed to replace traditional paper ballots to make the voting process faster, more accurate, and more secure.
Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) - Modern EVMs are often paired with VVPAT, which prints a paper slip showing the voter's choice for 7 seconds so they can verify their vote before it drops into a sealed box.
Introduced in –
- EVM - First introduced in 1982 (Kerala); Full Nationwide use: 2004 General Elections
- VVPAT – First introduced in 2013 (Nagaland); Full Nationwide implementation: 2019 General Elections.

Elections in India are conducted under Article 324 of the Constitution.

Legal Basis – EVM randomisation is based on ECI guidelines (procedural safeguard).
Conducted by – Election Commission of India (ECI).
Process – Two Stage Randomisation
- Stage 1: District → Constituency
  - EVMs randomly allocated from District warehouses → To Assembly Constituencies
- Stage 2: Constituency → Polling Station
  - EVMs further randomized: From constituency level → To specific polling booths
Features –
- Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) - Consists of
  - Ballot Unit → Voter presses button
  - Control Unit → Controlled by polling officer

- VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail)
  - Provides paper slip verification of vote
  - Slip visible for 7 seconds to voter

First Level Checking (FLC)
- - Only EVMs that pass FLC are used
  - Conducted by engineers of Bharat Electronics Limited and Electronics Corporation of India Limited
- Digital System
  - Randomisation carried out using EVM Management System (EMS) software.
- Transparency Measures – Conducted in presence of Political party representatives and lists are shared with: Political parties and Contesting candidates
- Storage and Security –
  - Stored in Strong Rooms
  - Security features: Sealed rooms, CCTV surveillance, Guarded by CAPF and Monitoring by candidates/representatives
- Counting Safeguard – VVPAT verification done in: 5 randomly selected polling stations per constituency

References