Supreme Court Scrutinizes VVPAT Slip Accessibility, ECI Cites Risk

In today’s hearing, the Supreme Court emphasized the paramount importance of maintaining the sanctity of the electoral process. Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta urged the Election Commission of India to elucidate the meticulous measures taken to uphold the integrity of elections. The court deliberated on petitions advocating for cross-verification of votes cast via Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with the paper slips generated by the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system.

Advocate Nizam Pasha, representing one of the petitioners, advocated for allowing voters to retain their VVPAT slip after casting their vote and deposit it into a ballot box. However, concerns were raised regarding the potential infringement on voter privacy. Advocate Prashant Bhushan proposed extending the duration of the VVPAT machine’s light, ensuring transparency in the slip-cutting process.

Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde underscored the necessity for a separate audit to enhance the credibility of the counting process. The court scrutinized a report alleging discrepancies in mock poll results in Kerala, prompting the Election Commission to refute the claims.

The Election Commission elucidated the voting process, highlighting that the EVM’s control unit commands the VVPAT unit to print its paper slip, visible to voters for a limited time before being deposited into a sealed box. It clarified the absence of software in the VVPAT printer, explaining the storage of symbols in flash memory and the preparation of electronic ballots by returning officers.

The Election Commission assured that voting machines undergo thorough pre-poll checks and mock polls, with VVPAT slips verified on polling day. However, queries regarding the sealing of Symbol Loading Units and the possibility of post-voting slip issuance remained.

The court emphasized the need to bridge any perceived disconnect between official explanations and public perception to preserve voter trust. The Election Commission pledged transparency and integrity, promising to update FAQs to address concerns raised during the hearing.

In light of the petitions, the court pondered over the potential return to a ballot paper voting system, with the Election Commission’s counsel dismissing it as a “retrograde suggestion.”

Understanding VVPAT: Ensuring Electoral Transparency

The VVPAT system, or Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail, serves as a critical component of electoral transparency. It allows voters to verify if their vote was accurately recorded and attributed to their chosen candidate. The VVPAT generates a paper slip, stored in a sealed cover, which can be accessed in the event of a dispute.

Currently, VVPAT slips from five randomly selected EVMs in each Assembly segment undergo verification. Amidst concerns and questions surrounding the reliability of the EVM voting system, petitions advocating for comprehensive cross-verification of all votes have emerged.