Supreme court quashed the petition demanding 100% cross-verification of EVMs with VVPAT

 “Elections are a barometer of Democracy”

Introduction:

Since the general elections of India are mighty and sensational - developed nations, emerging economies, thinkers across the globe have a vigil eye on it. Quantum of India’s general elections is eyebrow raising. 

Roughly the election consists of whooping 96.8 crore voters which surpasses the whole Europe’s population electing candidates on 543 Lok Sabha constituencies throughout the country.

 India votes digitally, today reaffirmed by Honorable Supreme Court of India. Over 1.1 million Electronic Voting Machine (EVMs) were utilized during the 2019 General Elections. These EVMs were linked with Voters’ Verified Paper Audit Trail, commonly known as VVPAT. 

Since Independence, our election process has witnessed multiple reforms, also known as Electoral Reforms. From these multiple reforms one of the revolutionary reform was the introduction of EVMs in the voting process.

Background:

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) basically are voting mechanism which records the vote casted and categorise by the location where the system tabulates the vote. 

Mainly the mechanism is based on two technologies: 1) Optical Scanning and 2) Direct Recording. 

EVMs ensures flawless casting, recording and storage of votes. It also helps in alleviating the entire election process towards paper-less status. 

Bright brains of Industrial Design Centre at Indian Institute of Bombay (IIT-B) has developed the industrial design of EVMs. 

EVMs are produced by Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) and Electronics Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL).

EVM comprises of 2 units, Control Unit and Balloting unit. Each of these units contains micro controllers with pre-programmed burnt memory.

A very maiden use of EVM in India was done at the by-election to North Paravur Assembly constituency in Kerala in the year 1982, though it was a very initial pilot use.

Later, in 1989, by amending Representation of the People Act – 1951, a provision was made to facilitate the use of EVMs in elections.

In 1998, EVMs were introduced in an experimental manner in selected constituencies in the elections to the assemblies of Rajasthan – Madhya Pradesh – Delhi.

In 1999, EVMs were used for the first time (entire state) in the Assembly elections of Goa state.

This how, EVMs were introduced in Indian Elections between 1998 and 2001 in a phased manner.

Voters’ Verifiable Paper Trail Audit (VVPAT) is an independent system attached to EVM, which enables voter to verify his/her casted vote as intended. 

When a vote is casted, a slip is printed and remained exposed through a transparent window for 7 seconds, showing the serial number, name and symbol of candidate.

For using VVPAT in the elections the law was amended in the year 2013. Supreme Court also allowed Election Commission of India (ECI) to introduce VVPAT in a phased manner.

VVPATs are also manufactured by BEL and ECIL.

A very maiden use of VVPAT was done in the by-election to the Noksen assembly constituency to Nagaland held in the year 2013.

Thereafter, VVPAT was introduced in a phased manner in assembly elections in some selected constituencies. 

In 2014 General Elections, VVPATs were used in 8 selected constituencies across the country.

In 2019 General Elections, Each EVM was linked with the VVPAT.

Supreme Court’s view:

Today, a bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar rejected all the petitions seeking 100% verification of EVMs with VVPAT slips. SC also rejected pleas to revert to paper ballot voting system.

 Along, SC directed ECI to take few steps enhancing the free and fair elections.

Source: All India Radio News, PIB, Website of Election Commission of India, Indian Polity by M. Lakshmikanth.