“The Bill introduces (a) VVPAT printer to ensure that votes are supplemented by a permanent paper record of each electronic vote for purposes of auditing electronic ballots,” says the Bill presented by the Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Eric Molale. It further states that the introduction of VVPAT necessitated redrafting of the Amendment in order to synchronise the procedures for the EVM with the verification process provided by the VVPAT printer ballot slips. It will distinguish the EVM voting procedure from voting by ballot paper, while it retains other provisions such as registration of voters, preparation of rolls, deletion of supplementary rolls, assistance of voters by election officers and increase in penalties.
The Bill prescribes procedure to be followed prior to casting of ballots, as well as post casting of ballots that include sealing of ballot containers and counting of ballots.
The VVPAT will have ballot slip compartment in which ballot slips are collected and will also allow the voter to view the ballot slip to ascertain if it reflects their vote. The VVPAT is capable of creating a paper record of all votes cast in a polling station and provide the serial number for each vote.
Prior to voting, election officers are required to inspect a clean or unused voting machine ballot paper in the presence of other stakeholders such as party representatives and polling agents.
Full Article: Mmegi Online :: Electoral Bill introduces EVM paper trail.