Jurist India Supreme Court rejects plea to verify votes polled through machines

[Dadparvar]

The Indian Supreme Court (SC) rejected Friday a plea seeking 100 percent cross-verification of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) data with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) records. An EVM is a voting device that uses electronic means to aid or complete the tasks of casting and counting votes. The VVPAT, introduced during India’s Lok Sabha elections in 2014, provides a paper trail for verifying votes in the absence of traditional paper ballots.

The SC acknowledged that there have been repetitive petitions against the usage of EVMs in elections, and the issue requires a conclusive verdict. The judgment added:

We have conducted an in-detail review of the administrative and technical safeguards of the EVM mechanism. Our discussion aims to address the uncertainties and provide assurance regarding the integrity of the electoral process. A voting mechanism must uphold and adhere to the principles of security, accountability, and accuracy. An overcomplex voting system may engender doubt and uncertainty, thereby easing the chances of manipulation. In our considered opinion, the EVMs are simple, secure and user-friendly. The voters, candidates and their representatives, and the officials of the ECI are aware of the nitty-gritty of the EVM system. They also check and ensure righteousness and integrity. Moreover, the incorporation of the VVPAT system fortifies the principle of vote verifiability, thereby enhancing the overall accountability of the electoral process.

However, to further enhance the integrity of the election process, the SC gave two directions for implementation. It includes VVPAT symbol loading units (SLU) to be sealed and stored alongside EVMs for 45 days post-results. When a voter casts their vote using the EVM, the VVPAT prints a paper slip with the chosen candidate’s name and symbol. The SLUs ensure the correct symbol is displayed on the VVPAT paper slip for the selected candidate. Additionally, five percent of EVMs’ memory is to be verified post-results, with expenses borne by candidates requesting the check, which is refundable if tampering is found.

The Indian general election is currently underway, running from April 19 to June 1 in seven phases. This election is responsible for election of Members of Parliament for the lower house, Lok Sabha, and consequently the prime minister as well as the central government of the country.

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