Explained: What Is Randomisation of VVPATs Started by EC Officials in Bihar and Why It Matters

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has completed the first randomisation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) for the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls. The exercise was carried out simultaneously across 18 districts on October 11.

Using the EVM Management System, District Election Officers in all constituencies going to polls in the first phase conducted the randomisation in the presence of representatives from all recognised national and state political parties. Only machines that had successfully cleared the initial technical checks were included.

A total of 54,311 ballot units, 54,311 control units, and 58,123 VVPATs have now been randomly allotted to 121 Assembly constituencies, covering 45,336 polling stations, India Today reported.

Detailed constituency-wise allocation lists have been shared with political party representatives at district headquarters. These machines will now be stored in designated strong rooms under strict security, again in the presence of party representatives.

Once the final list of contesting candidates is ready, the details of this first randomisation will also be shared with the political parties, the ECI said. Officials added that the process, conducted digitally and in full view of party observers, plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of elections.

Bihar will vote in two phases - on November 6 and November 11, with counting scheduled for November 14.

What Is Randomisation of VVPATs and Why It Matters

The randomisation process is a key transparency measure, ensuring that no machine is pre-assigned to any specific constituency or polling station, thereby minimising the scope for tampering or bias.

Randomisation involves using a software system to assign each VVPAT (and its paired EVM) to a specific polling booth only after technical checks are completed. This is done under the supervision of election officials and party representatives to maintain transparency, and detailed allocation lists are then shared with political parties.

Why It's Important:

Prevents Tampering: Random allocation makes it nearly impossible to target or manipulate machines at specific booths.

Ensures Transparency: Political parties witness the entire process and receive machine lists, reinforcing trust.

Strengthens Security: Machines are securely stored and audited after randomisation.

Builds Public Confidence: The process reassures voters and stakeholders that elections are conducted fairly.