VVPAT Machines Will Not Be Used In Upcoming Local Body Elections In Maharashtra: SEC
VVPAT Machines Will Not Be Used In Upcoming Local Body Elections In Maharashtra: SEC
Mumbai, August 6, 2025: Local body elections in Maharashtra could take place anytime, but voters are still unsure of the exact dates. In a press conference, State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare announced that the local body elections will be held in phases. He said that due to the Supreme Court’s decision on OBC reservations, the process has become easier. Wards reserved for OBCs will now be determined by lottery.
Waghmare also stated that the election process will begin by the end of October. Importantly, he clarified that VVPAT machines will not be used in these elections, as they have never been used in local body elections before.
What is a VVPAT machine ?
Indian Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are battery-operated devices that record and count votes. Each EVM has three main parts:
1. Control Unit (CU)
2. Balloting Unit (BU) – connected to the control unit via a 5-meter cable
3. VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail)
When a voter presses a button on the Balloting Unit to cast their vote, the vote is stored in the second unit, and the VVPAT generates a paper slip confirming the vote. A single Balloting Unit can record the names of up to 16 candidates. If more candidates are contesting, additional Balloting Units can be connected. Up to 24 Balloting Units can be linked to one Control Unit, allowing for a maximum of 384 candidates to be listed.
The Control Unit remains with the polling officer, while the Balloting Unit is placed inside a closed booth for voter privacy. On the Balloting Unit, voters see party symbols, candidate names, and their photos. Each candidate has a blue button next to their name. Once voting concludes, the polling officer presses the ‘Close’ button on the Control Unit to end the process.
Although VVPAT is not a physical part of the EVM, it serves as an additional verification mechanism. It helps voters confirm that their vote has been correctly registered by printing a slip that shows the chosen candidate’s name.
