Election Commission: 'No VVPAT in Upcoming Elections'; Clarification from the Election Commission

The State Election Commission has clarified that there is currently no provision for the use of VVPAT systems in local self-government elections. Although electronic voting machines (EVMs) have been approved for these elections since 2005, there are no clear legal rules for VVPATs. Moreover, due to the implementation of the multi-member ward system, a voter typically has the right to cast 3 to 4 votes. This structure requires special VVPAT integration technology, which is still under study.

The Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) of all state election commissions in the country is preparing a technical report to develop an appropriate VVPAT system for the multi-member ward system. However, since this report has not yet been submitted and the relevant laws have not been amended, the immediate use of VVPAT in local body elections is not possible, the commission said.

The path for VVPAT was cleared by amending the Representation of the People Act in 1989 and the election rules in 2013 for Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. However, since local self-government elections are conducted under various laws from the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act of 1888, the State Election Commission does not have the authority to make amendments, as stated in the commission's press release. The commission also clarified that future decisions will be made only after changes in the law and the receipt of the TEC's technical report.