What Happened
- The Election Commission of India (ECI) completed the first randomisation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry ahead of their 2026 assembly elections.
- First randomisation was also completed for bypolls in Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland, and Tripura.
- The process was conducted through the EVM Management System (EMS) by District Election Officers (DEOs) in the presence of representatives from all recognised national and state political parties.
- Only machines that have successfully cleared the First Level Checking (FLC) process were included in the randomisation.
- Constituency-wise lists of randomised EVMs and VVPATs were formally shared with party representatives at their respective district headquarters.
- Randomised machines will be securely stored in designated Assembly Strong Rooms under the supervision of political party representatives.
Static Topic Bridges
EVM Randomisation: Purpose and Two-Stage Process
EVM randomisation is a security protocol introduced by the Election Commission to ensure that no election official, political party, or candidate can predict or manipulate which specific EVM will be used in which polling station. The process has two distinct stages. In the first randomisation, EVMs are randomly allocated from state/district warehouses to specific Assembly Constituencies. In the second randomisation (conducted closer to polling day), EVMs are allocated from the constituency level to individual polling stations. This double-randomisation means that even if someone were to tamper with a machine, they cannot ensure it lands at their target booth.
- Randomisation is done via software (EVM Management System / EMS), eliminating human discretion in the allocation process.
- Party representatives are present at both stages and receive a written record of allocated machines.
- Each EVM carries a unique serial number that is tracked throughout the election process.
- First Level Checking (FLC): Before randomisation, all EVMs undergo technical verification by engineers from BEL (Bharat Electronics Limited) or ECIL (Electronics Corporation of India Limited) in the presence of party representatives.
- Strong Room storage: After first randomisation, EVMs are kept in designated strong rooms under 24x7 CCTV surveillance and security.
Connection to this news: The completion of first randomisation signals the formal beginning of EVM deployment logistics for the 2026 assembly elections, with transparency ensured through party representation at every stage.
Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs): Technology and Design
India's EVMs are standalone, non-networked devices manufactured by two public sector undertakings — Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL, Bangalore) and Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL, Hyderabad). An EVM consists of two units: a Control Unit (held by the polling officer) and a Ballot Unit (in the voting booth), connected by a 5-metre cable. A voter presses the blue button next to their preferred candidate on the ballot unit, triggering an audio beep and a red light — providing dual confirmation. The control unit records and stores the vote. EVMs can record a maximum of 5 votes per minute and support up to 2,000 votes per machine.
- EVMs are powered by alkaline batteries — they do not require electricity, making them suitable for remote areas.
- They are not connected to the internet or any external network at any point.
- The software is "one-time programmable" (OTP) — it cannot be re-written or updated after manufacturing.
- In any constituency with more than 64 candidates, multiple ballot units can be linked.
- The Supreme Court, in its April 2024 ruling (People's Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India [Unverified — the specific 2024 EVM case citation should be verified]), upheld the use of EVMs and directed 100% counting of VVPAT slips for the top-5 polled EVMs per constituency rather than the earlier 1 EVM per assembly segment.
Connection to this news: Understanding how EVMs work is essential context for appreciating why the randomisation process matters — it is the critical procedural safeguard that prevents pre-election manipulation of specific machines.
VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail): Role in Electoral Transparency
The VVPAT is a printer-like device attached to the EVM that produces a paper slip showing the name, symbol, and serial number of the candidate voted for. This slip is visible to the voter through a transparent window for approximately 7 seconds before it is automatically cut and deposited in a sealed drop box. Introduced in pilot form in the 2013 Noksen (Nagaland) by-election, VVPATs have been used in all elections since 2019. They serve as an independent, physical record of votes cast — enabling verification that the vote recorded by the EVM matches what the voter intended.
- Introduced via amendment to the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 (Rule 49MA added).
- VVPATs are manufactured by BEL and ECIL, same as EVMs.
- The paper slips in the drop box are not counted by default — they serve as an audit trail for verification if ordered by the court or ECI.
- Post-2019 Supreme Court direction: VVPATs for 5 randomly chosen EVMs per assembly constituency are physically counted after results to cross-check EVM tallies.
- Opposition parties have repeatedly demanded 100% VVPAT counting, which the Supreme Court has declined citing logistical concerns.
Connection to this news: The first randomisation ensures VVPATs are allocated to constituencies through the same transparent process as EVMs — their deployment is inseparable from the EVM logistics chain.
Election Commission of India: Powers Under Article 324
Article 324 of the Constitution vests the superintendence, direction, and control of elections to Parliament, state legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice President in the Election Commission of India. This is a plenary power — the Supreme Court has held that wherever the enacted law is silent or makes insufficient provision, the ECI can act to fill the void and ensure free and fair elections. The ECI's authority over EVM design, procurement, deployment, and the randomisation protocol flows from this constitutional mandate, supplemented by the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961.
- The ECI consists of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two Election Commissioners (since 1989).
- CEC is removable only through impeachment-like process (address by both Houses of Parliament) — ensuring independence.
- The Election Commissioners (Amendment) Act, 2023 changed the appointment procedure for CEC and ECs.
- The Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 governs the technical and procedural aspects of EVM deployment.
Connection to this news: The ECI's authority to design and mandate the randomisation protocol — including requiring party observers at all stages — derives directly from its Article 324 superintendence power over election conduct.
Key Facts & Data
- States with first randomisation completed (March 2026): Assam, Kerala, Puducherry (assembly elections); Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland, Tripura (bypolls).
- Two-stage randomisation: District warehouse → Assembly Constituency (Stage 1); Constituency → Polling Station (Stage 2).
- EVM manufacturers: BEL (Bangalore) and ECIL (Hyderabad) — both public sector undertakings.
- VVPAT introduced: 2013 (pilot, Noksen by-election); used in all elections since 2019.
- VVPAT slip visibility: ~7 seconds through a transparent window.
- Post-2019 SC direction: VVPATs from 5 randomly chosen EVMs per assembly seat are physically counted.
- EVMs are non-networked, battery-operated, with one-time programmable firmware.
- Maximum votes recordable per EVM: 2,000.
- First Level Checking (FLC): Mandatory technical clearance before randomisation.