New Delhi: After a number of recent bypolls were marred in controversy over large-scale failure of VVPAT machines, the Election Commission chief on Sunday said that the panel is now introducing a few measures like a “small hood” on the sensor and different paper roll, to prevent lapses in the future elections.
With opposition parties pulling up the Centre over faulty EVMs and VVPAT machines in the recent bypolls to four Lok Sabha seats, including the crucial Kairana and Bhandara Gondiya elections, the Election Commission's technical expert committee carried out 'root cause analysis', reported PTI.
According to Election Commissioner OP Rawat, the commission found that direct light falling on the contrast sensor of the paper trail machine led to the malfunction.
He said the committee also found that a certain type of paper roll soaked humidity, resulting in the failure of the paper to move properly on the spool of the VVPAT machine while printing the results.
"We made simple changes ... a small hood was installed on the contrast sensor so that even if it is placed under direct light, it would not malfunction ... The electronic voting machine (EVM) is an electronic device which does not have issues with heat and humidity but the paper trail machine has electro-mechanical parts which affect its function," Rawat told PTI.
He said for areas with high humidity, the ECIL, which manufactures the machines, suggested that EC should procure paper which does not soak humidity.
"We have now procured humidity-resistant paper for humid areas," the CEC said.
Voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) or paper trail machine is a device which dispenses a slip with the symbol of the party for which a person has voted for. The slip appears on a small window for seven seconds and then drops in a box. But the voter cannot take it home.
The VVPAT are used in all polling stations. But as of now, results of EVMs and VVPATs are matched in one polling station per constituency.
While several opposition leaders across states raised complaints of VVPAT glitches and EVM malfunctioning in particular seats where they were likely to gain grounds, the EC has time and again blamed the glitches on “inadequately trained polling staff” and “extreme weather conditions”.
There have been demands to increase the number of polling stations where EVM and VVPAT results are matched to dispel fears about electronic voting machines being 'hacked' to favour a particular political party.
Earlier, it was reported that the EC was running behind schedule to deliver the required number of VVPAT machines before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Rawat said there have been delays in the delivery of paper trail machines as the Technical Experts Committee appointed by it analyses the technology stabilisation issues in the initial batches and incorporates essential design improvements.
"This ensures we don't face the problems later," he said.
While all required EVMs -- 13.95 lakh ballot units and 9.3 lakh control units -- will be delivered by September 30, 16.15lakh VVPATs will also be delivered well before the end of November, he added.
Over 11 per cent of the 10,300 VVPAT machines across 10 states had developed faults and had to be replaced during the May 28 bypolls.
(With PTI inputs)
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