The origin of the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine dates back to 2010, when the Election Commission (EC) engaged with political parties to enhance transparency in the electoral process
A prototype of the VVPAT machine was developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Electronics Corporation of India (ECIL), followed by field trials and design approval in February 2013
Amendments to the Conduct of Elections Rules in 2013 allowed for the attachment of a printer with a drop box to the EVM, and VVPATs were first used in the Noksen Assembly constituency of Nagaland in 2013
From June 2017, 100% of VVPATs were used in polls, culminating in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as the first general election with 100% of EVMs attached to VVPATs
VVPAT prints a paper slip indicating the voter's choice on the EVM, displaying the candidate's name and party symbol for 7 seconds through a transparent window
The printed slip is then sealed inside the VVPAT machine, serving as a verification mechanism for voters to ensure their vote is accurately recorded
VVPAT slips play a crucial role in corroborating EVM results in case of alleged vote fraud or discrepancies in the vote count