High humidity can affect the performance of the equipment, which could have a failure rate of 5% to 6% in Kerala

Soaring summer temperatures and humidity have prompted election officials in the State to apply to the Election Commission for more Voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines to be held in reserve for emergencies.

While the VVPAT is billed as a foolproof piece of equipment, humidity levels is one factor that can affect its performance.

“We have 35,000 VVPATs at the moment. We have asked for some more,” Chief Electoral Officer Teeka Ram Meena said.

While the failure rate of VVPATs at the national level was just three per cent, in Kerala, it is approximately five to six per cent, Mr. Meena said, with humidity being the main villain.

Direct light on machine

The State has 24,970 polling stations. On polling day on April 23, VVPAT machines will be used in all polling stations in the State for the first time. One other factor that is likely to affect the VVPATs is direct light falling on the machine.

At a demonstration for media personnel on Saturday, Mr. Meena reiterated that both the EVM and the VVPAT are foolproof. Voters need not have doubts regarding their effectiveness, he said.

For seven seconds

VVPATs allow the voter to verify whether his/her vote has been cast correctly. Kept next to the EVM, it will display the serial number, name and symbol of the candidate for seven seconds. If the circumstance arises where the VVPAT has to be replaced, it does not necessitate the replacement of the ballot unit and control unit.

If the voter complains that the VVPAT has displayed the wrong information, there is a provision to cast a ‘test vote,’ in the presence of the presiding officer and polling agents. This vote will not be counted, though.

Because of the seven-second waiting time for the VVPAT, the average time taken for a voter to cast his vote and exit the booth will go up slightly to about 12 seconds. On April 23, the polling time will be from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.