FAQs

Frequent Asked Questions (FAQs) on Voter Verifable
Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT)

Q1. What is Voter Verifable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT)?
Ans. Voter Verifable Paper Audit Trail is an independent system [consists of two parts,
namely, VVPAT Printer and VVPAT Status Display Unit (VSDU)] attached with the
Electronic Voting Machines that allows the voters to verify that their votes are cast as
intended. When a vote is cast, a slip is printed containing the serial number, name and
symbol of the candidate and remains exposed through a transparent window for 7
seconds. Thereafter, this printed slip automatically gets cut and falls in sealed drop
box of the VVPAT.

Q2. Whether VVPAT runs on electricity?
Ans: No. VVPAT runs on a power pack (Battery) of 15 volts.

Q3. When did Government of India notify the amended Conduct of Elections
Rules, 1961 to enable the Election Commission of India to use VVPAT with
EVMs?

Q4. Where VVPATs were used for frst time in India?

Q5. Who conduct the First Level Checking of VVPATs?

Checking (FLC) of VVPATs in the presence of representative of Political Parties
under videography.

Q6. Where VVPAT Printer and VSDU are kept in a polling station?
Ans. VVPAT consists of a Printer and a VVPAT Status Display Unit (VSDU). Control
Unit and VSDU are kept with the Presiding Offcer/Polling Offcer and Balloting
Unit and VVPAT Printer are kept in the voting compartment.

Q7. What procedure shall be followed in case of complaint about the paper slip
generated by the printer has shown the name or symbol of a candidate other
than the one he voted for?
Ans. Where printer for paper trail is used, if an elector after having recorded his vote under
rule 49M alleges that the paper slip generated by the printer has shown the name or
symbol of a candidate other than the one he voted for, the presiding offcer shall
obtain a written declaration from the elector as to the allegation, after warning the
elector about the consequence of making a false declaration.
If the elector gives the written declaration referred to in sub-rule (1), the presiding
offcer shall make a second entry related to that elector in Form 17A, and permit the
elector to record a test vote in the voting machine in his presence and in the presence
of the candidates or polling agents who may be present in the polling station, and
observe the paper slip generated by the printer.
If the allegation is found true, the presiding offcer shall report the facts immediately
to the returning offcer, stop further recording of votes in that voting machine and act
as per the direction that may be given by the Returning Offcer.
If, however, the allegation is found to be false and the paper slip so generated under
sub-rule (1) matches with the test vote recorded by the elector under sub-rule (2),
then, the presiding offcer shall-
(i) make a remark to that effect against the second entry relating to that elector
in Form 17A mentioning the serial number and name of the candidate for
whom such test votes has been recorded;

Q8. Who load the Serial numbers, names of candidates and symbols allotted to
contesting candidates in VVPAT unit?
Ans. Serial numbers, names of candidates and symbols allotted to them are loaded in
VVPAT unit with the help of engineers of manufacturer i.e. ECIL/BEL.

Q9. Whether test printout of the Serial numbers, names of candidates and symbols
loaded in VVPAT is required?
Ans. Yes. A test printout of the Serial numbers, names of candidates and symbols loaded
in VVPAT is required to check with the ballot paper placed on Ballot Unit. Thereafter
one vote to each candidate will be given to check that the VVPAT is printing the paper
slips correctly in respect of all the candidates.

Q10. Whether additional Polling Offcial is required in each polling station to
handle the VVPAT unit?
Ans. Yes. Additional polling offcial is required in each polling station to handle the VVPAT
unit. The duty of this polling offcial will be to watch the VVPAT Status Display Unit
(VSDU), kept on the presiding offcer’s table, continuously during the entire poll process.

Q11. What action should be taken in case of display of low battery on VSDU? Ans. In case of low battery message on VSDU, the battery of VVPAT should be immediately replaced with new power pack (battery).ction should be taken in case of display of low battery on VSDU?
Ans. In case of low battery message on VSDU, the battery of VVPAT should be immediately
replaced with new power pack (battery).

Q12. What action should be taken in case of display of printer error on VSDU?
Ans. In case of display of printer error on VSDU, VVPAT should be immediately replaced
with new VVPAT.

Q13. Whether changing of paper roll is allowed at polling stations?
Ans. Changing of paper roll is strictly prohibited at polling stations.

Q14. What is the most important action required to be taken immediately after
mock poll at the polling stations?
Ans. The Presiding Offcer shall ensure that the data of mock poll is cleared in the Control
Unit, without fail, and also remove all the printed paper (ballot) slips from the drop
box in the VVPAT unit. The printed paper slips of the mock poll, should be stamped
on their back side with rubber stamp having inscription “MOCK POLL SLIP’ before
keeping and sealing these printed paper slips in the thick black envelope supplied for
the purpose. The envelope will be sealed with the seal of the presiding offcer.

Q15. Whether it is advisable to connect or disconnect the connection of VVPAT
with EVM at SWITCH ON condition of the Control Unit?
Ans. No. Always ensure that connection and disconnection of VVPAT should be done
when Control Unit is in SWITCH OFF condition.

Q16. Whether Mock poll is required to be done if EVM/VVPAT is replaced during
poll process, where VVPAT is being used?
Ans. No.

Q17. Whether test vote recorded in the Control Unit of EVM is required to be counted
at the time of counting of votes?
Ans. No. At the time of counting of votes the test vote recorded for a candidate, as per
item 5 in Part I of Form 17C shall be subtracted from the number of votes recorded
for such candidate as displayed on the Control Unit.

Q18. Whether counting of printing paper slips of VVPAT is compulsory on the
counting day?
Ans. No. However, if any candidate, or in his absence, his election agent or any of his
counting agents make a written request to count the printed paper slips of the VVPAT
in respect of any polling station or polling stations, the Returning Offcer taking into
consideration various factors decides and issue written orders, whether to count or
not to count the printed paper slips of the VVPAT.

Q19. After announcement of the result, whether the printed paper slips of VVPAT
(counted or not), the printed paper slips are required to be taken out of the
drop box of the VVPAT Printer unit?
Ans. Yes, after announcement of the result, whether printed paper slips of VVPATs are
counted or not, the printed-paper slips are to be taken out of the drop box of the
printer and kept in a paper envelope made of thick black paper and sealed with red
wax with the bilingual secret seal of the Commission provided to the RO for sealing
of the documents.

Q20. Whether Thermal Paper Roll and Battery (Power Pack) are to be taken out
from the VVPAT, before keeping the VVPAT units in the separate Strong
Room, after declaration of result?
Ans. Yes.

Q21. Why are the EVMs and VVPATs kept in separate strong rooms after counting?