Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Postal Ballots underpin the foundation of a strong and democratic electoral process in India. The efficacy and security of these voting tools are critical to ensuring free, fair, and unblemished elections. Recently, in Madhya Pradesh, political parties raised concerns over manipulation of postal ballots housed in the ‘strong room’ and questioned the reliability of EVMs. However, the District Election Officer clarified that the strong room was opened solely for ballot sorting, not counting.
Understanding the Postal Ballots and Journey of EVMs
Postal ballots are voting options for service voters, absentee voters, voters on election duty, or those under preventive detention. After filling the necessary forms, eligible individuals receive postal ballots from the Returning Officer (RO) through mail or at facilitation centers if they’re on election duty.
EVM’s journey begins with first-level checks and randomization exercises, after which the machines are given to ROs following specific guidelines. Once the voting is concluded, EVMs and Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) are stored securely in strong rooms at collection or reception centres.
The Role of Security Measures and Storage of EVMs
The handling and storage of EVMs involve stringent security measures, including armed escort and storage in air-conditioned strong rooms. These rooms maintain the confidentiality and integrity of the voting process. Representatives from different political parties participate in overseeing this storage process, allowing transparency in the electoral system.
Procedures for Postal Ballots and Absentee Voters
Depending on the EC instructions, the facilitation centre in-charge opens the drop box daily in the presence of party and candidate representatives. The ballots then get dispatched to the RO at the end of each voting day. For absentee voters, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) deliver and collect the ballot form at the electors’ homes or take them to special postal voting centers for essential service personnel.
Counting Preparations for Postal Ballots
Postal ballots are securely transferred to another strong room at the counting centre, a day before counting, if the counting location differs from the RO’s headquarters. This process ensures the secure handling, documentation, and counting of postal ballots in adherence to electoral guidelines.
Understanding Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT)
VVPAT is an independent verification printer machine attached to EVMs that enables voters to confirm their votes. When a voter presses a button on the EVM, the attached VVPAT prints a paper slip with the poll symbol and candidate’s name. This slip is visible to the voter for seven seconds before being dropped into a drop box.
Securing the EVMs: An Overview
EVMs undergo a series of measures to ensure their security, starting from cleaning and inspecting the machines for damage to conducting mock polls on 5% of EVMs. Moreover, the allocation of these machines is done randomly to constituencies and polling booths, creating an unpredictable pattern. On the day of the poll, several checks are conducted by various authorities before the EVMs are sealed and transported back to the reception centres under armed escort.
Increasing the Existing VVPAT Verification Rate
Following the Supreme Court’s order, the existing VVPAT verification rate has been increased from one to five random EVMs per Assembly constituency or segment. This step attempts to assuage those skeptical about the integrity of EVM-based counting.
Election Commission of India: The Powerhouse behind Elections
The Election Commission of India plays an essential role in the electoral process by addressing disputes relating to recognized political parties’ splits/mergers and overseeing the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct. While in 2017, it resolved a critical misconception stating that it was a five-member body, the Commission continues to ensure that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs does not influence the election schedule for both general elections and bye-elections.
