Syllabus:

GS-2: Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.

Context: 

Recently, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has revised the existing guidelines under Rule 49B of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, for the design and printing of EVM Ballot Papers to enhance their clarity and readability.

More on the News 

• The initiative is in line with the 28 initiatives already taken by the Election Commission of India in the past 6 months to streamline and improve election processes and enhance convenience for voters.
• The upgraded EVM Ballot Papers will be used in the upcoming elections, starting with Bihar.

New Guidelines

• Photographs of the candidates: Henceforth, photographs of candidates will be printed in colour on the EVM Ballot Paper. The candidate’s face will occupy three-fourths of the photo space for better visibility.
• Serial numbers of candidates/NOTA: It will be printed in the international form of Indian numerals. The font size will be 30 and in bold for clarity.
• Names of all candidates/NOTA: To ensure uniformity, the names of all candidates/NOTA will be printed in the same font type and font size large enough for easy readability.
• EVM Ballot Papers: It will be printed on 70 GSM paper. For Assembly Elections, pink-coloured paper of specified RGB values shall be used.
• Names of up to 15 candidates on one sheet.
• NOTA option placed after the last candidate’s name.
• If candidates + NOTA are fewer than 16, the remaining space below will be left blank.

Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 

• Election Framework: Provides the detailed procedure for nominations, scrutiny, withdrawal, polling, counting, and declaration of results under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
• Transparency & Records: Prescribes forms, notices, and maintenance of election records, with provisions for public inspection of certain papers.
• Voting Methods: The rules govern voting through ballot papers, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), VVPATs, postal ballots, and proxy voting for service voters.
• Voter Secrecy: The rules ensure confidentiality of each voter’s identity and choice through rules on polling stations, compartments, and ballot handling.
• Officials’ Roles: It specifies the duties and powers of Returning Officers, Presiding Officers, and Polling Officers in conducting free and fair elections.
• Dispute Handling: It lays down procedures for resolving complaints, repolling in cases of malpractice or technical failure, and safeguarding the integrity of the process.

Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) 

• It is an electronic device for recording votes.
• It consists of two Units, a Control Unit and a Balloting Unit, joined by a five-meter cable.
• The Control Unit is placed with the Presiding Officer or a Polling Officer, and the Balloting Unit is placed inside the voting compartment.
• Instead of issuing a ballot paper, the Polling Officer in charge of the Control Unit will release a ballot by pressing the Ballot Button on the Control Unit.
• This enables the voter to cast his vote by pressing the blue button on the Balloting Unit against the candidate and symbol of his choice.
• In 1982, Paravur in Kerala became the first town to trial EVMs during Assembly polls, replacing paper ballots in 50 booths. The experiment, though pathbreaking, sparked controversy, repolling, and reversal of results.
• In December 1988, a section of the Representation of the People Act was amended and a new section, 61A, was included, empowering the EC to use EVMs.

Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT)

• VVPAT is a method that provides feedback to voters. It is an independent verification printer machine and is attached to electronic voting machines. It allows voters to verify whether their vote has been cast for the intended candidate.
• VVPAT was introduced six months before the 2014 General Elections. 
• The VVPAT attached to the EVM produced a paper slip that allowed the voter to verify if their vote was cast correctly. 
• The Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, were amended in 2013 to allow for VVPAT machines, which were piloted that year in the by-election for the Noksen assembly seat in Nagaland.

Sources:
The Hindu 
PIB
The Hindu