1. Election Commission of India
Training on Use of
Electronic Voting Machine

2. Index Description of EVM Procedure at the Counting Place
How Are the Votes Counted?

3. Description of EVM
Description

4. Electronic Voting Machine
EVM is a simple and reliable equipment for use in electing a candidate from among many candidates
It is portable and easy to operate
It operates on a special power pack
It is tamper-proof and error free
The polling data once recorded is retained even when the power pack is removed
Description

5. Interconnecting Cable
Components of EVM
Control Unit
Interconnecting Cable
Balloting Unit
Description

6. Carrying Cases
Carrying Case - Control Unit
The Control Unit and Balloting Unit are packed separately in special carrying cases
Carrying Case - Balloting Unit
Description

7. Opening of Carrying Case – Control Unit
Details of latches
Case Closed
Latches
Description

8. Opening of Carrying Case – Control Unit
Pull and push upwards simultaneously to release
Lift to open
Description

9. Opening of Carrying Case – Control Unit
Open Case

10. Control Unit ON Lamp Busy Lamp Display Section Candidate Set Section
Result Section
Ballot Section
Ballot Button
Total Button

11. Control Unit Opening of Bottom Compartment
Cover
Press Latch to release
Pull to open Cover
Description

12. Control Unit View of Bottom Compartment
Power Switch
Connector for
Auxiliary Unit
Connector for
Interconnecting Cable
Bottom Compartment
Cover
Description

13. Control Unit Display Section
4-Digit
Display Panel
ON Lamp
Busy Lamp
2-Digit
Display Panel
Description

14. Control Unit Candidate Set Section
inner door
Candidate set section
outer door
Provision for
thread seal
Latch
Power pack
compartment
Candidate set
button
Plug for
power pack
Provision for
Thread seal
Description

15. Control Unit Result Section
Result I
button
Close button
Clear button
Provision for
thread seal
Inner compartment
door
Result II
button
Inner
latches
Frames for
Paper seal
Description

16. Control Unit Ballot Section
Total button
Ballot button
Description

17. Procedure at the Counting Place

18. Preparation of Strong Room for EVMs
One Hall/Room for all the EVMs used in one Assembly Constituency
Draw Squares on Floor & Write Polling Station Numbers in each square to keep corresponding Balloting Unit / Control Unit
Ensure that the Strong Room has only one entry door and all windows are securely barred and closed
Procedure at the Counting Place

19. Procedure at the Counting Place
Storing Method of EVMs
Balloting Unit & Control Unit sealed in their Carrying Cases after poll should “NOT” be opened before counting
Store both Balloting and Control Units used at a polling station together with Control Unit on top of Balloting Unit
On top of the Control Unit, keep the sealed cover of Form 17-C
If space is a constraint, both the Units can be kept side by side in standing position
Procedure at the Counting Place

20. Sealing of the Strong Room
After all used EVMs of a constituency are stored in the Strong Room –
Close & bar all windows
Switch off all lights & power points
Close, lock & seal the entry door with RO’s seal
Allow the candidates / agents to put their seals on the door, if they so desire
Keep armed guards round the clock near strong room. Allow candidates’ representatives to keep vigil till counting day
Procedure at the Counting Place

21. Counting Day Arrangement of Tables
(Contd.)
A model layout of the Counting Hall is given in next slide
15 Tables - One for the RO/ARO and 14 for Counting of Votes
One Counting Supervisor and one Counting Assistant for each table
Procedure at the Counting Place

22. Procedure at the Counting Place
Model layout of the
Counting Hall
Procedure at the Counting Place

23. Counting Day Opening of Strong Room
(Contd.)
Counting Day Opening of Strong Room
Give due notice to candidates to be present at the fixed hour of opening Strong Room
Allow them to examine the seals on the door of strong room before opening
Post a responsible officer and also armed guards to keep a watch in the strong room till the counting is over
Procedure at the Counting Place

24. Counting Day Counting Tables
(Contd.)
Counting tables shall be serially numbered from 1 to 14
Control Units shall be supplied in the serial order of polling stations
Control Unit of Polling Station No. 1 shall be supplied to Table No. 1, that of Polling Station No. 2 to Table No. 2, and so on
If more than one Control Unit is used at any polling station, ensure that all such units are supplied to that Table in one lot
Procedure at the Counting Place

25. Counting Day Supply of Control Units to Tables
(Contd.)
Counting Day Supply of Control Units to Tables
Balloting Units shall NOT be taken out of strong room
ONLY Control Units & Form 17C in sealed covers are to be supplied to counting tables
DO NOT OPEN seals of carrying cases of used Control Units in the strong room
They shall be opened only at the counting table in the presence of counting agents / candidates
Procedure at the Counting Place

26. Procedure at the Counting Place
Counting Procedure
R.O. Should keep spare new batteries on his table & shall fix them on the counting table only when any battery is weak in the used control units
Direct the counting supervisors & assistants not to leave the counting table allotted to them
They should NOT leave any machine on the table unattended
Procedure at the Counting Place

27. Procedure at the Counting Place
Counting Procedure
(Contd.)
R.O. Should attend to the postal ballot papers first
In the meanwhile Control Units along with Forms 17C can be supplied to the counting tables
Candidates / agents be allowed to check the seals
Procedure at the Counting Place

28. Counting Procedure Checking the Seals
(Contd.)
Be familiar with the procedure laid down in Handbook For ROs
First inspect the seals on carrying case of the Control Unit, then remove the seals and take out the Control Unit from the carrying case
Keep aside the empty carrying case
Inspect the outer seals of Control Unit 1
Procedure at the Counting Place

29. Procedure at the Counting Place
Counting Procedure
Checking the Seals
(Contd.)
Open the outer cover of “Result section”
Permit inspection of green paper seal(s) and their serial numbers
Procedure at the Counting Place

30. Switching on Control Unit
Counting Procedure
Switching on Control Unit
(Contd.)
Open the Bottom (Rear) compartment of Control Unit and switch ON power
If the battery is weak there may not be any display
The seals of battery section be opened and a NEW Battery be inserted
Close the Bottom (Rear) compartment
Procedure at the Counting Place

31. Procedure at the Counting Place
Counting Procedure
Piercing of Paper Seal
(Contd.)
To find out whether the Power pack / Battery is working or not, press TOTAL Button
After getting ready to note down the result, PIERCE the green paper seal over RESULT-1 Button and reach RESULT-1 Button. It is not necessary to open INNER COMPARTMENT
Procedure at the Counting Place

32. Procedure at the Counting Place
Counting Procedure
Result Display
(Contd.)
Press RESULT-1 Button. Note down the result.
Procedure at the Counting Place

33. Procedure at the Counting Place
Counting Procedure
Tips
(Contd.)
On pressing RESULT-1 Button either -
Result may be displayed OR
The right display panel may flash“no”
If the display is NO, then press CLOSE Button
After the display of CLOSE Button is over, PRESS RESULT-1 Button
Procedure at the Counting Place

34. Resealing Control Unit after Counting
Counting Procedure
Resealing Control Unit after Counting
(Contd.)
After the counting is over, switch off the Control Unit
Remove the Power pack
Pull Power pack /
Battery out
Procedure at the Counting Place

35. Resealing Control Unit after Counting
Counting Procedure
Resealing Control Unit after Counting
(Contd.)
Seal both Result Section and Candidate Set Section outer doors
Pack the Control Unit in the carrying case and seal it
Procedure at the Counting Place

36. How Are the Votes Counted?
At the end of the poll, the Control Unit and Ballot Unit are switched off and sealed in separate carrying cases in the presence of the candidates or their agents
They are then sent to secure storage centers till the day of the counting
On the day of counting the Control Units are taken to the counting center
On pressing the “RESULT” button the Control Unit displays the following
Total No. of votes cast
Individual votes recorded against each of the candidates

37. Thank You