What is an Electronic Voting machine? 

• Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) is an electronic device for recording votes. An Electronic Voting Machine consists of two Units – a Control Unit and a Balloting Unit – joined by a five-meter cable. 

When was the EVM first introduced in elections?

• EVMs were first used in 70-Parur Assembly Constituency of Kerala in the year 1982.

How can EVMs be used in areas where there is no electricity?

• EVMs do not require electricity. EVMs run on an ordinary battery assembled by Bharat Electronics Limited/Electronics Corporation of India Limited.

What is VVPAT?

• Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) is an independent system 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 the sealed drop box of the VVPAT.

Whether VVPAT runs on electricity?

• No. VVPAT runs on a power pack Battery.

Where were VVPATs used for the first time in India?

• VVPATs with EVMs were used for the first time in a bye-election from 51-Noksen Assembly Constituency of Nagaland in 2013, after which the Election Commission (EC) decided to introduce VVPATs in a phased manner. 

• From 2017, 100% of VVPATs began to be used in polls, and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections became the first general election to have 100% of EVMs being attached to VVPATs.

Why in News?

• A plea has been filed in the Madras High Court to count 100% of the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine printout slips attached to the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the upcoming general elections.
• As of now, the EC mandates the counting of all VVPAT slips in five randomly selected polling stations per Assembly constituency.
• Last year, the EC told the Supreme Court that pressing for 100% verification was a regressive thought and tantamount to going back to the days of manual voting using a ballot system. 
• It said manual counting of all VVPAT slips would take time and introduce the potential of human error.