The Voting System Revolution: An Introduction to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in Elections

A device used to record electronic votes in elections is called an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM). The machine has a rectangular shape and consists of three units: a ballot unit, a control unit, and a voter-verifiable-paper-audit-trail (VVPAT) unit.

The ballot unit allows voters to make their selection by pressing one of the blue buttons next to the serial number, name, and symbol of the candidate they choose. The VVPAT unit produces a paper slip that is visible to the voter for seven seconds before being stored in a sealed drop box. The control unit is used by election officials to ensure that each voter can only cast one vote.

During voting, the control unit is placed near the election official while the ballot and VVPAT units are kept in a compartment for private voting. The entire system operates without any wired or wireless connectivity to external sources. Each ballot unit can hold 16 candidate options, including “none of the above,” and up to 24 ballot units can be connected to a control unit for up to 384 candidates per seat. EVM systems can record up to 2,000 votes and are powered by batteries or power packs from government manufacturers such as Bharat Electronics Ltd and Electronics Corp of India. Election staff closely monitor and check each EVM before and during elections to ensure accuracy and integrity of the voting system.