The Supreme Court has rejected a batch of petitions seeking 100% cross-verification of vote count in electronic voting machines (EVMs) with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) paper slips and also declined a plea to bring back paper ballots for the voting process. The verdict coincides with the second phase of polling for the General Elections to the Lok Sabha and the Court has issued a series of directions to strengthen the existing system. These include sealing of Symbol Loading Units (SLUs) and the recommendation to include an electronic machine for counting paper slips and bar codes.
Supreme Court Upholds Electronic Voting Machines, Rejects Paper Ballots
Background:
Electronic voting machines (EVMs) have been used in Indian elections since 2004. In recent years, there have been concerns raised about the reliability and security of EVMs. Critics have alleged that EVMs are susceptible to manipulation and tampering, which could compromise the integrity of elections.
To address these concerns, the Election Commission of India (ECI) introduced Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) in 2019. VVPAT is a mechanism that provides a printed slip to voters, which indicates the candidate they voted for. This slip is then stored in a separate unit to allow for verification in case of discrepancies.
Supreme Court Judgment:
In March 2023, the Supreme Court of India rejected a batch of petitions seeking 100% cross-verification of vote count in EVMs with VVPAT paper slips. The Court also declined a plea to bring back paper ballots for the voting process.
The verdict coincides with the second phase of polling for the General Elections to the Lok Sabha. The Court, however, issued a series of directions to strengthen the existing system, including:
Top 5 FAQs Related to EVMs and VVPAT:
1. Are EVMs reliable and secure?
The ECI has maintained that EVMs are reliable and secure. They have undergone several security audits and tests, and there has been no evidence to suggest that they can be manipulated or tampered with.
2. What is VVPAT and how does it work?
VVPAT is a mechanism that provides a printed slip to voters, which indicates the candidate they voted for. This slip is then stored in a separate unit to allow for verification in case of discrepancies.
3. Why did the Supreme Court reject the petitions seeking 100% cross-verification of vote count?
The Supreme Court stated that there is no "credible evidence" to support the allegations of EVM manipulation. It also noted that the introduction of VVPAT has already addressed concerns about the reliability of EVMs.
4. What are the directions issued by the Supreme Court to strengthen the existing system?
The Court has directed the ECI to seal Symbol Loading Units (SLUs) and recommend the inclusion of an electronic machine for counting paper slips and bar codes.
5. Will paper ballots be brought back for the voting process?
The Supreme Court has not ordered the reintroduction of paper ballots for the voting process. It has stated that the current system, with EVMs and VVPAT, is reliable and secure.
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