## Report on Election Commission of India Direction Regarding Electronic Voting Machines and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT)
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes a direction issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) printers in specified constituencies. The direction, issued on March 25, 2021, mandates the use of EVMs and VVPATs for recording votes in several Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies across multiple states. The key finding is the ECI's intent to ensure the availability of EVMs and VVPATs and to facilitate well-trained personnel to use them, aiming for a transparent and verifiable election process. The Commission also approved the design of the specified EVMs and VVPATs from Bharat Electronics Ltd. and Electronics Corporation of India Ltd.
**2. Introduction:**
The purpose of this report is to provide an informative overview of the Election Commission of India's (ECI) direction regarding the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) printers in specified constituencies, based solely on the provided official gazette notification.
**3. Policy Overview:**
This is a new policy direction specifying the use of EVMs and VVPATs in specific constituencies.
* **Core Objective(s):** Based on the provided text, the core objectives include:
* To implement the use of EVMs and VVPAT printers in specified constituencies.
* To ensure sufficient availability of EVMs and VVPATs.
* To ensure polling personnel are well-trained in the efficient handling of EVMs and VVPAT printers.
* To ensure electors are familiar with the operation of EVMs and VVPAT printers.
* To standardize EVM and VVPAT design.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
The policy addresses the need for secure and transparent voting using electronic voting machines with a paper trail. The direction emphasizes ensuring that EVMs and VVPATs are available, that personnel are properly trained to use them, and that voters understand how they work. This suggests a focus on enhancing the integrity and verifiability of the election process, as per Section 61A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Rule 49A of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961.
**5. Key Provisions:**
The ECI direction establishes the following key provisions:
* **Mandatory Use of EVMs and VVPATs:** The direction mandates the use of EVMs and VVPAT printers in the following constituencies:
* 6 Malappuram Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala
* 39 Kanniyakumari Parliamentary Constituency of Tamil Nadu
* 23 TirupatiSC Parliamentary Constituency of Andhra Pradesh
* 2 Belgaum Parliamentary Constituency of Karnataka
* 125 Morva HadafST Assembly Constituency of Gujarat
* 13 Madhupur Assembly Constituency of Jharkhand
* 47 Basavakalyan Assembly Constituency of Karnataka
* 59 MaskiST Assembly Constituencies of Karnataka
* 55 Damoh Assembly Constituency of Madhya Pradesh
* 252 Pandharpur Assembly Constituency of Maharashtra
* 26 SerchhipST Assembly Constituency of Mizoram
* 51 NoksenST Assembly Constituency of Nagaland
* 110 Pipili Assembly Constituency of Odisha
* 179 Sahara Assembly Constituency of Rajasthan
* 24 SujangarhSC Assembly Constituency of Rajasthan
* 175 Rajsamand Assembly Constituency of Rajasthan
* 87 Nagarjuna Sagar Assembly Constituency of Telangana
* 49 Salt Assembly Constituency of Uttarakhand
* **Approval of EVM and VVPAT Designs:** The direction approves the design of EVMs and VVPAT printers developed by Bharat Electronics Ltd. (Bangalore) and Electronics Corporation of India Ltd. (Hyderabad). These machines are to be attached and used for recording votes in the specified constituencies.
* **Legal Basis:** The direction is issued under Section 61A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Rule 49A of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
The direct stakeholders affected by this direction include:
* **Electors in the specified constituencies:** Voters in the listed constituencies will use EVMs and VVPATs.
* **Polling personnel:** Staff involved in conducting elections in these constituencies, who must be trained in the use of EVMs and VVPATs.
* **Election Commission of India:** Responsible for the overall implementation and oversight.
* **Political Parties and Candidates:** Affected by the implementation of this policy during elections in the specified constituencies.
* **Bharat Electronics Ltd. (Bangalore) and Electronics Corporation of India Ltd. (Hyderabad):** The manufacturers of the approved EVMs and VVPAT printers.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Election Commission of India (ECI) is the responsible body for implementing this direction.
* **Timelines:** The direction refers to constituencies notified on 12.03.2021 and 23.03.2021, indicating immediate implementation for upcoming elections in those constituencies.
* **Procedures:** The direction refers to the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, and supplementary instructions issued by the ECI, indicating that existing procedures will be followed with EVMs and VVPATs. Training of polling personnel is also a critical aspect of implementation.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
The likely intended outcomes of this direction include:
* **Increased transparency and voter confidence:** The use of VVPATs provides a paper trail, allowing voters to verify that their vote was recorded correctly, thereby enhancing trust in the election process.
* **Improved election accuracy:** Electronic voting reduces the potential for human error in counting votes.
* **Standardization of election equipment:** By approving specific designs, the ECI promotes consistency and reliability in the EVMs and VVPATs used across different constituencies.
**9. Conclusion:**
The Election Commission of India's direction mandating the use of EVMs and VVPAT printers in specified constituencies represents a significant step towards enhancing the transparency and verifiability of the election process. By ensuring the availability of equipment, training personnel, and standardizing technology, the ECI aims to improve the integrity of elections and boost voter confidence. The direction, issued under the authority of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, is a crucial component of India's electoral framework.
Key Entities Referenced
Election Commission of India: The organization responsible for conducting elections in India, specifying the use of Voting Machines in constituencies.
Representation of the People Act, 1951: A law that provides for the giving and recording of votes by Voting Machines.
Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961: Rules that allow a printer with a drop box to be attached to voting machines for printing a paper trail of the vote.
Malappuram Parliamentary Constituency: A parliamentary constituency in Kerala where votes will be recorded by means of EVMs and VVPAT printers.
Kerala: A state in India.
Kanniyakumari Parliamentary Constituency: A parliamentary constituency in Tamil Nadu where votes will be recorded by means of EVMs and VVPAT printers.
Tamil Nadu: A state in India.
TirupatiSC Parliamentary Constituency: A parliamentary constituency in Andhra Pradesh where votes will be recorded by means of EVMs and VVPAT printers.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India.
Belgaum Parliamentary Constituency: A parliamentary constituency in Karnataka where votes will be recorded by means of EVMs and VVPAT printers.
Karnataka: A state in India.
Morva HadafST Assembly Constituency: An assembly constituency in Gujarat where votes will be recorded by means of EVMs and VVPAT printers.
Gujarat: A state in India.
Madhupur Assembly Constituency: An assembly constituency in Jharkhand where votes will be recorded by means of EVMs and VVPAT printers.
Jharkhand: A state in India.
Basavakalyan Assembly Constituency: An assembly constituency in Karnataka where votes will be recorded by means of EVMs and VVPAT printers.
MaskiST Assembly Constituency: An assembly constituency in Karnataka where votes will be recorded by means of EVMs and VVPAT printers.
Damoh Assembly Constituency: An assembly constituency in Madhya Pradesh where votes will be recorded by means of EVMs and VVPAT printers.
Madhya Pradesh: A state in India.
Pandharpur Assembly Constituency: An assembly constituency in Maharashtra where votes will be recorded by means of EVMs and VVPAT printers.
Maharashtra: A state in India.
SerchhipST Assembly Constituency: An assembly constituency in Mizoram where votes will be recorded by means of EVMs and VVPAT printers.
Mizoram: A state in India.
NoksenST Assembly Constituency: An assembly constituency in Nagaland where votes will be recorded by means of EVMs and VVPAT printers.
Nagaland: A state in India.
Pipili Assembly Constituency: An assembly constituency in Odisha where votes will be recorded by means of EVMs and VVPAT printers.
Odisha: A state in India.
Sahara Assembly Constituency: An assembly constituency in Rajasthan where votes will be recorded by means of EVMs and VVPAT printers.
SujangarhSC Assembly Constituency: An assembly constituency in Rajasthan where votes will be recorded by means of EVMs and VVPAT printers.
Rajsamand Assembly Constituency: An assembly constituency in Rajasthan where votes will be recorded by means of EVMs and VVPAT printers.
Rajasthan: A state in India.
Nagarjuna Sagar Assembly Constituency: An assembly constituency in Telangana where votes will be recorded by means of EVMs and VVPAT printers.
Telangana: A state in India.
Salt Assembly Constituency: An assembly constituency in Uttarakhand where votes will be recorded by means of EVMs and VVPAT printers.
Uttarakhand: A state in India.
Electronic Voting Machines EVMs: Machines used for voting.
Paper Trail Voter Verifiable Paper Audit TrailVVPAT: System providing paper trail for votes.
Bharat Electronics Ltd., Bangalore: Company that developed the design of EVMs and VVPAT Printers.
Electronics Corporation of India Ltd., Hyderabad: Company that developed the design of EVMs and VVPAT Printers.
N.T. BHUTIA: Secretary.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-25032021-226121
xxxGIDHxxx
CG-DL-E-25032021-226121
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (iii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (iii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 19] िई ददल्ली, बृहस्ट्प जतर्ार, माच ा25, 2021/चत्रै 4, 1943
No. 19] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021/CHAITRA 4, 1943
भारत जिर्ाचा ि आयोग
जिदिे
िई ददल्ली, 25 माचा, 2021
आ.अ. 21(अ).—यत:, लोक प्रजतजिजधत्र् अजधजियम, 1951 की धारा 61क में यह प्रार्धाि दकया गया
ह ै दक र्ोट ंग मिीिों द्वारा मतदाि और मतों का अजभलेखि ऐसी रीजत, िैसी दक जिधााररत की िाए, से ऐस े
जिर्ााचि क्षेत्र या जिर्ााचि क्षेत्रों में अपिाया िाए िैसा दक भारत जिर्ााचि आयोग, प्रत्येक मामले की
पररजस्ट्िजतयों को ध्याि में रखते हुए जर्जिर्दष्टा करे; और
2. यत:,जिर्ााचिों का सचं ालि जियम, 1961 के जियम 49क के परन्तुक के अिसु ार, भारत जिर्ााचि
आयोग द्वारा यिाअिुमोददत जडिाइि र्ाले ड्राप बॉक्स सजहत एक प्प्रं र, ऐसे जिर्ााचि क्षेत्र या जिर्ााचि क्षेत्रों
या उसके भागों में मतों के पेपर रेल के मुद्रण के जलए मतदाि मिीि के साि भी िोडा िाए िैसा दक भारत
जिर्ााचि आयोग द्वारा जिदिे ददया िाए; और
3. यत:, जिर्ााचि आयोग के द्वारा ददिाकं 26 फरर्री, 2021 के प्रसे िो सख्ं या ईसीआई/प्र.े िो./17/2021
एर्ं ददिाकं 16 माच,ा 2021 के प्रसे िो सख्ं या ईसीआई/प्र.े िो./28/2021 के तहत घोजित केरल म ें
6-मालापरु म ् ससं दीय जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे , तजमलिाड ़ू म ें 39-कन्याकुमारी ससं दीय जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे , आध्रं प्रदिे म ें
23-जतरुपजत(अ.िा) ससं दीय जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे , किा ा क म ें 2-बले गाम ससं दीय जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे , गिु रात म ें
125—मोरर्ा हडफ (अ.ि.िा.) जर्धािसभा जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे , झारखण्ड में 13-मधुपरु जर्धािसभा जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे ,
किा ा क म ें 47-बासर्कल्याण एर् ं 59-मास्ट्की (अ.ि.िा.) जर्धािसभा जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे ों, मध्यप्रदिे म ें 55-दमोह
1836 GI/2021 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(iii)]
जर्धािसभा जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे , महाराष्ट्र म ें 252-पंढरपरु जर्धािसभा जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे , जमिोरम म ें 26-—सरे जिप
(अ.ि.िा.) जर्धािसभा जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे , िागालडैैँ म ें 51-िोकसिे (अ.ि.िा.) जर्धािसभा जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे , ओजडिा
म ें 110-जपजपली जर्धाि सभा जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे , रािस्ट्िाि म ें 179-सहाडा, 24-सिु ािगढ़ (अ.िा), एर् ं
175-रािसमन्द जर्धािसभा जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे ों, तले गािं ा म ें 87-िागाििुा सागर जर्धािसभा जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे और
उत्तराखण्ड म ें 49-सल् जर्धाि सभा जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे , की पररजस्ट्िजतयों पर जर्चार दकया ह,ै और आयोग संतुष्ट ह ै
दक उपरोक्त संसदीय एर्ं जर्धाि सभा जिर्ााचि क्षेत्रों म ें पयााप्त संख्या में इलेक् ॉजिक र्ोट ंग मिीिें तिा पेपर
रेल [र्ो र र्ेररफायबल पेपर ऑजड रेल (र्ीर्ीपै )] मुदद्रत करिे के जलए प्प्रं र उपलब्ध हैं, मतदाि कार्माक,
इलेक् ॉजिक र्ोट ंग मिीिों तिा र्ीर्ीपै प्प्रं र के दक्षताप़ूणा संचालि करिे के जलए प़ूणा प्रजिजक्षत ह ैं तिा
जिर्ााचक भी इलेक्रॉजिक र्ोट ंग मिीिों(ई र्ी एम) एर्ं र्ीर्ीपै प्प्रं रों की कायाप्रणाली से प़ूणातया पररजचत हैं।
4. अत:, अब भारत जिर्ााचि आयोग, लोक प्रजतजिजधत्र् अजधजियम, 1951 की उक्त धारा 61क तिा
जिर्ााचिों का सचं ालि जियम, 1961 के जियम 49क के अंतगात अपिी िजक्तयों का प्रयोग करते हुए एतद्द्वारा
ददिाकं 12.03.2021 एर् ं 23.03.2021 को अजधसज़ू चत चाल ़ू उप जिर्ाचा िों म ें केरल म ें 6-मालापरु म ् ससं दीय
जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे , तजमलिाड ़ू म ें 39-कन्याकुमारी ससं दीय जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे , आध्रं प्रदिे म ें 23-जतरुपजत(अ.िा) ससं दीय
जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे , किा ा क म ें 2-बले गाम ससं दीय जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे , गिु रात में 125—मोरर्ा हडफ (अ.ि.िा.)
जर्धािसभा जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे , झारखण्ड म ें 13-मधुपरु जर्धािसभा जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे , किा ा क म ें 47-बासर्कल्याण एर् ं
59-मास्ट्की (अ.ि.िा.) जर्धािसभा जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे ों, मध्यप्रदिे म ें 55-दमोह जर्धािसभा जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे , महाराष्ट्र
म ें 252-पंढरपरु जर्धािसभा जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे , जमिोरम म ें 26-—सरे जिप (अ.ि.िा.) जर्धािसभा जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे ,
िागालडैैँ म ें 51-िोकसिे (अ.ि.िा.) जर्धािसभा जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे , ओजडिा म ें 110-जपजपली जर्धाि सभा जिर्ाचा ि
क्षत्रे , रािस्ट्िाि म ें 179-सहाडा, 24-सिु ािगढ़ (अ.िा), एर् ं 175-रािसमन्द जर्धािसभा जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे ों,
तले गािं ा म ें 87-िागाििुा सागर जर्धािसभा जिर्ाचा ि क्षत्रे और उत्तराखण्ड म ें 49-सल् जर्धाि सभा जिर्ाचा ि
क्षत्रे , िहां जिर्ााचिों का संचालि जियम,1961 के अधीि तिा इस जर्िय में आयोग द्वारा समय-समय पर िारी
दकए गए अिुप़ूरक अिुदिे ों के अंतगात जर्जहत तरीके से इलेक्रॉजिक र्ोट ंग मिीिों तिा र्ीर्ीपै प्प्रं र के
माध्यम से मत डाले और ररकॉड ा दकए िाएगं े।
5. जिर्ााचि आयोग, भारत इलेक्रॉजिक्स जलजम ेड, बैंगलौर तिा इलेक्रॉजिक्स कापोरेिि ऑफ इजण्डया
जलजम ेड, हदै राबाद द्वारा यिा-जर्कजसत इलेक्रॉजिक र्ोट ंग मिीिों और र्ीर्ीपै प्प्रं रों, जिन्ह ें सभी जिर्ााचि
क्षेत्रों में मत डालि े और ररकॉड ा करिे के जलए उपयुाक्त मिीिों से िोडा िाएगा, के जडिाइि को भी एतद्द्वारा
अिुमोददत करता ह।ै
[फा. सं. 576/3/ईर्ीएम/2021/एसडीआर/खण्ड–II]
आदिे से,
एि. ी.भ़ूर या, सजचर्
ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
DIRECTION
New Delhi, the 25th March, 2021
O.N. 21(E).—Whereas, Section 61A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, provides that
the giving and recording of votes by Voting Machines in such manner as may be prescribed, may be
adopted in such constituency or constituencies as the Election Commission of India may, having regard to
the circumstances of each case, specify; and
2. Whereas, as per the proviso to Rule 49A of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, a Printer with a
drop box of such design, as may be approved by the Election Commission of India, may also be attached to
voting machine for printing a paper trail of the vote, in such constituency or constituencies or parts thereof
as the Election Commission of India may direct; and[भाग II—खण् ड 3(iii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
3. Whereas, the Election Commission has considered the circumstances in 6-Malappuram
Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala, 39-Kanniyakumari Parliamentary Constituency of Tamil
Nadu 23-Tirupati(SC) Parliamentary Constituency of Andhra Pradesh & 2-Belgaum Parliamentary
Constituency of Karnataka, 125-Morva Hadaf(ST) Assembly Constituency of Gujarat,
13-Madhupur Assembly Constituency of Jharkhand, 47-Basavakalyan & 59-Maski(ST) Assembly
Constituencies of Karnataka, 55-Damoh Assembly Constituency of Madhya Pradesh,
252-Pandharpur Assembly Constituency of Maharashtra, 26-Serchhip(ST) Assembly Constituency of
Mizoram, 51-Noksen(ST) Assembly Constituency of Nagaland, 110-Pipili Assembly Constituency of
Odisha,179-Sahara, 24-Sujangarh(SC) & 175-Rajsamand Assembly Constituencies of Rajasthan,
87-Nagarjuna Sagar Assembly Constituency of Telangana and 49-Salt Assembly Constituency of
Uttarakhand,.announced vide the Election Commission’s Press Note No. ECI/PN/17/2021 dated
26thFebruary, 2021 and No. ECI/PN/28/2021 dated 16th March, 2021 and is satisfied that sufficient
number of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Printers for printing Paper Trail [Voter Verifiable
Paper Audit Trail(VVPAT)] are available for taking the poll in above mentioned Parliamentary and
Assembly Constituencies, the polling personnel are well trained in efficient handling of EVMs and
‘VVPAT Printers’ and the electors are also fully conversant with the operation of the EVMs and the
VVPAT Printers;
4. Now, therefore, the Election Commission of India, in exercise of its powers under the said Section
61A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Rule 49A of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961,
hereby specifies 6-Malappuram Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala, 39-Kanniyakumari
Parliamentary Constituency of Tamil Nadu 23-Tirupati(SC) Parliamentary Constituency of Andhra
Pradesh & 2-Belgaum Parliamentary Constituency of Karnataka, 125-Morva Hadaf(ST) Assembly
Constituency of Gujarat, 13-Madhupur Assembly Constituency of Jharkhand, 47-Basavakalyan
&59-Maski(ST) Assembly Constituencies of Karnataka, 55-Damoh Assembly Constituency of
Madhya Pradesh, 252-Pandharpur Assembly Constituency of Maharashtra, 26-Serchhip(ST)
Assembly Constituency of Mizoram, 51-Noksen(ST) Assembly Constituency of Nagaland, 110-Pipili
Assembly Constituency of Odisha, 179-Sahara, 24-Sujangarh(SC) & 175-Rajsamand Assembly
Constituencies of Rajasthan, 87-Nagarjuna Sagar Assembly Constituency of Telangana and 49-Salt
Assembly Constituency of Uttarakhand,.notified on 12-03-2021& 23-03-2021, as the constituencies in
which the votes,shall be given and recorded by means of EVMs and VVPAT printers in the manner
prescribed, under the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, and the supplementary instructions issued by the
Election Commission from time to time on the subject.
5. The Election Commission also hereby approves the design of EVMs and VVPAT Printers as
developed by the Bharat Electronics Ltd., Bangalore and Electronics Corporation of India Ltd., Hyderabad,
which shall be attached to the said machines, to be used for the giving and recording of votes in all the
Constituencies.
[F. No. 576/3/EVM/2021/SDR-Vol.II]
By Order,
N.T. BHUTIA, Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.