An electronic voting machine (EVM) is a rectangular device used to record votes electronically during elections. The device features blue buttons with the serial number, name, and symbol of each candidate, as well as an option for “none of the above.” Voters press the button corresponding to their chosen candidate to cast their vote.
The EVM consists of three units – a ballot unit, a control unit, and a voter-verifiable-paper-audit-trail (VVPAT) unit. The control unit ensures that each voter can only vote once, while the VVPAT unit produces a paper slip visible to the voter for seven seconds before being stored in a sealed drop box. The entire system is isolated from external wired or wireless connectivity.
The control unit is placed next to the officer in charge, while the ballot and VVPAT units are kept in a voting compartment for voters to make their selections in privacy. Each ballot unit can accommodate up to 16 candidate options, including “none of the above.” A total of 24 units can be connected to a control unit, allowing for a maximum of 384 candidates per unit.
An EVM system can record up to 2,000 votes and operates on batteries or power packs supplied by the manufacturers, which are government-run companies like Bharat Electronics Ltd and Electronics Corp of India. Election staff carefully monitor and inspect each EVM at polling stations to ensure its proper functioning during elections.