Election Commission demonstrates new system in EVMs

BANGALORE, INDIA: The Election Commission of India (ECI) demonstrated Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) developed by Bharat Electronics limited, Bangalore (BEL) and Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), to the representatives of all the recognised national and state political parties.

VVPAT system was examined by the Technical Experts Committee was desired by all the political parties in a meeting held by ECI on October, 2010.

In December 2010, the Technical Experts Committee held consultations with political parties, Civil Society organizations and manufacturers of EVMs.

In July 2011, the first pilot study of VVPAT was conducted in Thiruvanantpuram, Delhi, Jaisalmer, Cherapunji and Leh. After the first pilot study, the ECI had asked the EVM manufacturers to work on certain areas to improve the system.

Once the improved prototype was ready, the Technical Experts Committee recommended that it should be tested in the field once again.

The second pilot study of the VVPAT systems was held in Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram, Leh, Jaisalmer and Cherapunjee. Even after that, the ECI had asked the EVM manufacturers to fine tune the design further.