The Supreme Court of India has issued a notice to the Election Commission (EC) regarding a plea from leaders representing 21 different political parties. This diverse group of party leaders is seeking to verify at least half of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) by referencing their Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips in the imminent general elections.
Background
Concerns regarding the functionality of EVMs are simmering in many political circles. To counter these anxieties, the EC announced its plan to validate VVPAT slips from a single randomly selected polling booth in each constituency. Recently, the Supreme Court directed the EC to reply to a plea which insisted on verifying the counts from EVMs and VVPATs from at least 30% of randomly chosen polling stations in every assembly and Lok Sabha constituency.
The Petitioner’s Argument
The petitioner posits that checking at least 50% of EVMs using corresponding VVPAT slips in the forthcoming elections would be in the best interest of ensuring free and fair elections, as outlined in the basic structure of our Constitution. According to them, the verification of 50% devices in every assembly segment or constituency would be a statistically significant sample size to assure the general public that fears of EVM tampering are unfounded.
They argue that the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) decision to confirm VVPAT slips from only one randomly chosen booth in a constituency would account for a mere 0.44% of the total votes cast. They believe that such a guideline undermines the whole purpose of VVPAT, reducing it to an “ornamental” measure rather than one with substantial impact.
Notably, their petition cites the judgement in the Dr. Subramanian Swamy v ECI (2013) case, which stated that VVPATs were an “indispensable requirement of free and fair elections”. To truly honour this judgement, they insist that at least 50% of VVPAT slips should be verified.
Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail
A VVPAT is an independent verification tool that is attached directly to EVMs. It enables voters to confirm that their vote has been cast in favour of the intended candidate. When a voter casts their vote in the EVM, a paper slip is generated by the connected VVPAT device. This slip carries information about the chosen candidate’s poll symbol and name, allowing the voter to verify their choice.
After being visible to the voter for seven seconds through a glass case in the VVPAT, the ballot slip automatically cuts itself and drops into a secure drop box within the VVPAT machine, followed by an audible beep.
Table of Facts
| Fact | Description |
|---|---|
| VVPAT | An independent verification printer machine attached to electronic voting machines that prints a slip for voter verification. |
| EVM | Electronic Voting Machines used in India’s general and state elections. |
| Sample Size Proposed by Petitioners | At least 50% of EVMs in each assembly segment or constituency should be verified using their associated VVPAT slips. |
The Potential Impact
The resolution of this plea could potentially have a significant impact on future elections. By increasing the verification count, it could boost the confidence of the general public in the election process, making it more transparent, reliable, and robust. However, it also necessitates adequate resources and time to ensure proper verification without disrupting the overall electoral process.