Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT)

BACKGROUND

• The Political decision of the Election Commission of India was censured for not being straightforward and keeping ideological groups unaware of everything going on with respect to surrenders in the Citizen Confirmed Paper Review Trail (VVPAT) machines.

What criticisms have been leveled at the Election Commission (EC)?

• Political parties have not been informed by the EC that 6.5 lakh VVPAT machines have been found to be defective.
• The quantity of machines wherein deserts have been found is multiple/third (37%) of the number utilized in the 2019 Lok Sabha political race and might have impacted citizens in the last broad political race and resulting Get together survey.
• Defects have been discovered in entire batches of thousands of VVPATs from various manufacturers with serial numbers that are consecutive.
• The machines have been returned to their manufacturers due to their severity.
• The EC did not adhere to the panel's own standard operating procedures (the Model Code of Conduct), which stipulate that field officers must report any flaws within seven days.
• By being open, the EC must regain public confidence in the electoral process.

How do VVPAT machines work?

       About:-

• An independent verification printer attached to electronic voting machines (EVMs) is known as VVPAT, and it enables voters to confirm that their votes have been accurately recorded.
• The VVPAT machine prints the slip with the party's name and symbol for approximately seven seconds after the voter presses the button on the EVM.
• In India, VVPAT machines were first used in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections to improve transparency and dispel doubts about the accuracy of EVMs.
• VVPAT machines can be gotten to by surveying officials as it were.
• As indicated by ECI, EVMs and VVPATs are discrete elements and are not associated with any organization.

Challenges:-

       Specialized Breakdowns:

• The possibility of technical problems with VVPAT machines is a major concern. A paper receipt of the voter's vote is supposed to be printed by the machines and placed in a box afterward.
• However, there have been instances in which the machines have failed, resulting in printing that is either inaccurate or absent altogether.

       Assurance of Paper Trails:

• One more test is the check of the documentations created by the VVPAT machines.
• Even though the machines are supposed to keep a physical record of who voted, it's not always clear how this record can be checked, especially when the electronic and paper records are different.

        Confidence in Voters:

• The public's faith in the electoral process has been further eroded by recent reports of defective VVPAT machines.
• Questions have been raised regarding the accuracy and fairness of the elections as a result of the EC's lack of transparency and accountability.
• In Dr. Subramanian Swamy v. ECI (2013), the Supreme Court ruled that VVPAT is a "requirement of free and fair elections."

Way Forward:-

     Standard Upkeep:

• Making sure that the machines are maintained on a regular basis is one way to deal with the problem of technical malfunctions. In order to promptly identify and address any flaws, the EC ought to devise a plan for routine testing and maintenance.

Increased Openness:

• The EC ought to make the electoral process more transparent in order to address concerns regarding the verification of paper trails. This can be accomplished by providing political parties and the general public with additional information regarding the operation of the VVPAT machines and the verification procedure.

Accountability:

• The European Commission (EC) ought to accept responsibility for the malfunctioning VVPAT machines and take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.
• Implementing a system of accountability for those in charge of machine upkeep and testing is one way to accomplish this.

Development and Research:

• Last but not least, electronic voting requires ongoing research and development. In order to enhance the accuracy, security, and transparency of the electoral process, new innovations and technologies should be investigated.

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