NEW DELHI: Even as 17 political parties discuss approaching the Election Commission to seek a return to paper ballots, the poll panel is done with over 50% of its preparations for Lok Sabha polls that include improvements in VVPAT design to rule out any malfunction on account of light-sensitivity or humidity.

The design was updated after nearly 11.6% of VVPATs deployed for Lok Sabha and assembly bypolls in May malfunctioned, with nearly 20% of machines needing replacement in Kairana and 19% in Bhandara-Gondiya parliamentary constituencies.

To ensure that the country’s first 100% VVPAT-based general elections remain glitch-free, the commission has decided to have all such machines under production fitted with a hood to protect them from any over-exposure to light.

