SC to hear pleas for VVPAT cross-verification today
The Supreme Court will on Tuesday review a clutch of petitions seeking the verification of votes cast via Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine. The VVPAT system allows voters to verify their vote was accurately recorded by generating a sealed paper slip. The VVPAT generates a paper slip that can be viewed by the voter. It is kept in a sealed cover and can be opened in case of a dispute.
Petitions demand comprehensive VVPAT verification
The petitions, filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and activist Arun Kumar Agarwal, call for a more extensive verification process. Specifically, Agarwal has requested that all VVPAT slips be counted. The ADR's petition urges the court to direct the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Centre to ensure voters can use VVPATs to confirm their vote has been counted as recorded.
VVPAT verification: A decade-long issue
The issue of vote verification first surfaced in 2009 when Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy approached the Delhi High Court after his party's loss in the general election. Swamy advocated for a paper trail system in the electronic voting machine (EVMs) as a means to provide assurance that a voter's vote for a particular candidate has been correctly recorded. After his petition was dismissed by the high court, he moved the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court's 2013 judgment on VVPAT verification
In its 2013 judgment, the Supreme Court agreed with Swamy's argument, stating that a "paper trail" is essential for free and fair elections. This ruling led to the implementation of the VVPAT system, which generates a paper slip as proof of vote recording. However, currently only slips from five randomly selected EVMs in each assembly constituency or each assembly segment in a parliamentary constituency are physically verified.
Election Commission's response to VVPAT verification petitions
In response to the current petitions, the ECI has highlighted the challenges of manpower and infrastructure. They argue that verifying all VVPAT slips would cause a delay in the counting process. The Supreme Court's decision on this matter could significantly impact the 2024 Lok Sabha elections—first phase for which will begin on April 19.
