- India
- Sep 18
EVMs to have colour photographs of candidates
• The Election Commission of India (EC) has revised the existing guidelines under Rule 49B of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, for the design and printing of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) ballot papers to enhance their clarity and readability.
• Since 2015, the ballot papers pasted on EVMs had black and white photos of candidates.
• The candidate’s face will occupy three-fourths of the photo space for better visibility.
• Serial numbers of candidates/NOTA will be printed in the international form of Indian numerals. The font size will be 30 and in bold for clarity.
• To ensure uniformity, the names of all candidates/NOTA will be printed in the same font type and font size large enough for easy readability.
• The upgraded EVM ballot papers will be used in the upcoming elections, starting with Bihar.
How the EVM works?
• Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) is a device used to electronically record and count votes cast in elections.
• The Indian EVM system is also termed as ECI-EVM, meaning an EVM specifically designed, manufactured and used for elections as per election procedure and rules framed by Election Commission of India.
• EVM consists of Ballot Unit (BU), Control Unit (CU) and the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT).
• EVMs come under the overall category of Direct Recording Electronic voting machine systems, which is one of the many voting methodologies available worldwide.
• In the ECI-EVM system of voting, the Control Unit is placed with the Presiding Officer and the Ballot Unit(s) and VVPAT are placed inside the Voting Compartment.
• Instead of issuing a ballot paper, the Polling Officer in-charge of the Control Unit releases the electronic ballot by pressing the “Ballot Button” on the Control Unit. This enables the voter to cast his/her vote by pressing the “blue button” (Candidate button) on the Ballot Unit against the candidate of his/her choice.
• When the voter presses a button against the candidate of his/her choice on the Ballot Unit, a red LED glows against the chosen candidate’s button on BU.
• A paper slip showing the serial number, name and the symbol of the candidate of his/her choice is generated and is visible for about seven seconds through the transparent window of VVPAT. Hence the voter is able to see the “printed slip” and verify that vote is cast as per his/her choice.
• Thereafter, the printed paper slip gets cut automatically and stored in a sealed drop box of VVPAT. A loud beep is heard from the Control Unit which confirms that the vote is registered successfully.
• EVMs and VVPATs do not require any external power supply. EVM and VVPAT run on their own battery/ power-packs.