BackEC to buy over 1.6 million voter verifiable paper audit trail units for EVMs
The Election Commission wrote to public sector units Electronic Corp. of India and Bharat Electronicsexpressing its intent to buy the VVPATs in time for the general election
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New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC) plans to buy over 1.6 million voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) units for electronic voting machines (EVMs), with an eye on the 2019 next general election.
After voting, the VVPAT machine dispenses a paper slip with the name, serial number and symbol of the candidate voted for.
The EC on Friday wrote to public sector units —Electronic Corp. of India Ltd (ECIL) and Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL)—expressing its intent to buy the VVPATs in time for the general election. The purchase of 1,615,000 VVPATs would be made at an estimated cost of Rs3,173.47 crore during 2017-18 and 2018-19. It will purchase 807,500 VVPATs from each PSU by September 2018.
Also Read: 30,000 new VVPAT machines by July for Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh polls: EC
The move comes amid growing demand from key opposition parties for paper trails, and the apex court directive to the centre to respond to a plea on the issue.
The EC’s letter of intent came two days after the Union cabinet on 19 April cleared the proposal for the purchase of the VVPAT units.
“This will enhance transparency and uphold the voters’ right to know which party he or she has voted, thereby increasing voters’ confidence in the free and fair electoral process," Nasim Zaidi, chief election commissioner, said, according to a press release by the poll panel.
The EC had written to the Union government over the need for the purchase of EVMs.
Amid allegations of EVM tampering in the recently concluded state polls and by-polls, key opposition parties had submitted a memorandum to the EC in which they had criticized the government for not providing enough funds for VVPATs.
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