EC Orders Mandatory VVPAT Count for Any EVM‑Ballot Mismatch as Kerala Counting Centres Expand to 51

Context Kerala’s Assembly election counting begins on May 4. The Election Commission (EC) has tightened verification rules: any discrepancy between the electronic tally recorded by an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) and the total votes listed in the ballot paper account will trigger a manual count of Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips. A VVPAT slip prints the selected candidate’s name and symbol, providing a paper record of each vote.

Key Facts - The EC directive requires officials to compare EVM totals with the ballot paper account before any counting. If the numbers differ, the EVM is set aside and all VVPAT slips for that booth are counted to determine the winner. - Previously, VVPATs were counted only when a mismatch could alter the outcome. The new rule applies regardless of the margin. - United Democratic Front (UDF) candidates have asked that VVPATs be counted alongside EVMs in eight constituencies within Kozhikode district. - Kerala’s counting infrastructure now includes 51 centres across 140 Assembly constituencies, exceeding the earlier announcement of 43 centres. Each centre houses separate halls, often on college campuses, to process votes. - In Thiruvananthapuram district, all 14 seats will be tallied at the Mar Ivanios campus in Nalanchira, consolidating the district’s counting activity.

What It Means The mandatory VVPAT count raises the transparency of the Kerala results, reducing reliance on electronic data alone. By expanding to 51 centres, the Election Commission aims to avoid bottlenecks and ensure smoother processing of the 140 constituency tallies. The UDF’s demand for simultaneous VVPAT and EVM counts in Kozhikode reflects heightened scrutiny in contested areas. Observers can now request verification of two random EVMs per round, adding another layer of oversight.

Looking Ahead Watch for the first batch of results on May 4 and monitor whether the expanded counting network and stricter VVPAT rules influence the speed and credibility of the final seat allocation.