VVPAT

Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) is a paper record produced by an electronic voting machine to provide a physical representation of a voter’s selections. It is used with electronic voting equipment to enhance transparency and enable independent verification of electronic tallies. The paper trail can be used for audits, recounts, and voter confidence, while the electronic system handles the ballots on election day.

In typical VVPAT implementations, when a voter makes selections on an electronic voting machine, a printer generates a paper slip that summarizes the choices for each contest. The slip is made available to the voter for a brief period to verify accuracy, then either deposited into a secure receptacle or maintained in a manner that preserves ballot privacy. The paper record is stored separately from the electronic tally and can be reconciled with the electronic results during audits.

VVPATs support post-election verification by enabling the manual counting of a sample of paper records to confirm the accuracy of electronic tallies. This process, often used in conjunction with risk-limiting audits, helps detect discrepancies and provides a mechanism for audits and recounts without disclosing voter identities.

Challenges and limitations include the cost and logistical burden of printing, handling, and securely storing paper slips, as well as ensuring voter privacy and proper chain of custody. While VVPATs strengthen verifiability, they rely on robust audit procedures and secure integration with electronic tallies to be effective.