VVPAT Full Form

VVPAT full form is Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail. VVPAT is one of the most important devices launched by the Election Commission of India to conduct the Electoral Reforms in the country. Using VVPAT, the candidate can cast the vote electronically. Introduction of VVPAT eliminates the use of papers and saves its wastage.

What is the Full Form of VVPAT?

VVPAT full form is Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail. It is known as an independent paper record of the electronic voting machine in India. VVPAT is connected with EVM through a device known as printer port which records the data of the votes and the vote casted in a paper slip to verify the correct recording of vote by EVM. In the VVPAT system, the Voters can verify their votes and the authenticity is retained before casting ballots, which helps in eliminating the chances of electoral fraud and rigging. Mainly, VVPT is useful and effective for the visually challenged voters, illiterate voters and senior citizens who can’t read or write but can check that their votes are correctly cast on EVMs or not. However, every registered voter is not allowed to touch the EVM unless a ballot has been cast for that voter or the name has been recorded in the list.

Why is VVPAT Needed?

• As per the calculation, the expense of every EVM ranges between Rs.15,000- 20,000 and its maintenance cost is around Rs.1000 per year which has led to an exorbitant  cost of conducting elections in India. With the introduction and implementation of the VVPAT system,  this money will be saved.
• Election expenditure which includes various  campaigning in India ranges between 5000 crores to 10000 crores (approx) which is quite steep when compared with the countries like Germany, USA, Canada and France which spend approx 300 crores each for the election process respectively. This huge expenditure gap during the election season can be reduced by implementing this VVPAT system in elections.
• The VVPAT system will also help to ensure that EVM cannot be used in conducting an international election as well. International elections will be conducted with ‘paper trail method’ which will ensure that EVMs are not tampered. This could avoid negative effects in the case of various international voting processes especially in the UN, EU or any other international election.
• VVPAT system can fairly reduce the chances of electoral frauds, rigging and malpractices as it has no scope for cheating as it provides a paper copy of vote cast by voter and a voter can check and verify his vote before casting. Hence, VVPAT is beneficial for conducting fair elections in India maintaining the spirit of democracy.
• The VVPAT system provides confidence to the electorate and maintains the record that every vote is counted. Therefore, it eliminates any chance of tampering or mishandling with EVM votes. VVPAT ensures transparency as well as maintains the accuracy of the voting system in a format.

Benefits of VVPAT

Introducing the VVPAT system of voting will bring a diverse change in the Indian Electoral System and process in conducting fair elections. Apart from this, the VVPAT system implies many benefits. Few of the benefits are listed below:

1. The VVPAT system provides confidence to every electorate that every vote is counted. Therefore, it completely eliminates any chance of vote tampering or prevent any error in counting.
2. The VVPAT system ensures transparency as well as maintains the accuracy of the voting system in India.
3. VVPAT system is a paper trail which provides transparency in the process of conduct in elections such as counting, investigating the cases of corruption etc.
4. VVPAT helps in saving money spent on electoral functioning, which can be used for serving other important purposes like educating people about voting behavior, clearing their name in cases of disputes etc.
5. VVPAT is a simple to use and much useful machine which can be used in developing countries like India with ease. If implemented on a large scale, it would help to reduce the huge expenditure on elections.
6. It is a paper trail system on which no one can deny their action i.e the vote cast to which party/candidate.
7. VVPAT helps to increase and boost the confidence level of voters in the election process as the voter feels the sense of being part of ‘democracy’.
8. If the VVPAT system is implemented throughout, it will help to avoid fraudulent voting and corrupt practices such as booth capturing, looting on election day etc.
9. VVPAT makes the election process accurate by avoiding over and under voting by the electorates. It ensures that every person has only one vote as they are entitled to, so that we have a fair election system.
10. The verification process in the VVPAT mechanism helps to eliminate chances of EVM manipulation.
11. VVPAT makes the election process transparent and helps to reduce electoral frauds by recording the data on paper which can be printed.
12. Voters can check their vote before casting a ballot by themselves which ensures the smooth process of verification.
13. It is a paper trail system which is introduced in the VVPAT system on which no one can deny their action.
14. It will help in reducing the cases of corruption as people will know that their vote is recorded on paper, which is more transparent and accurate than electronic voting machines where the cases of corruption were highly registered.