Tag: EVMs

Supreme Court verdict tomorrow on 100% EVM-VVPAT verification petitions

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Supreme Court is set to announce its verdict on Friday (April 26) on petitions seeking 100% electronic voting machine (EVM) and voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) verification. This comes after the court’s statement on Wednesday, April 24, where it had expressed its inability to conduct elections and emphasised the need to trust the technical submissions of the Election Commission.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court reserved its judgment on the plea demanding full verification of EVMs and VVPATs. A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta remarked, “Courts have already intervened twice, if there is room for improvement, we will consider it.”

Also Read: SC says it cannot conduct elections, have to trust EC’s technical submissions

The EC defended its current practice of 5% VVPAT verification, arguing that EVMs are tamper-proof and challenging candidates to show any mismatch between EVM votes and VVPAT slips. However, petitioners disputed this, raising doubts about the re-programmability of EVM microcontrollers. They cited an RTI reply indicating that microcontrollers can be re-programmed, contrary to the EC’s claims.

The court raised fresh queries with the EC regarding EVMs and VVPATs, seeking clarity on whether VVPAT machines also have a programmable memory, storage, sealing of EVM machines, security of VVPAT machines, and duration for storage of EVMs and VVPAT machines.

The court emphasised the importance of voter satisfaction and trust in the electoral process. It interacted with senior Deputy Election Commissioner Nitesh Kumar Vyas to understand the functioning of EVMs. Senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing the EC, asserted that EVMs are standalone machines and cannot be tampered with, although he acknowledged the possibility of human error.

Notably, the top court was hearing a batch of pleas seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with VVPATs. The VVPAT is an independent vote verification system that enables electors to see whether their votes have been cast correctly. The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), one of the petitioners, sought the reversal of the poll panel’s 2017 decision to replace the transparent glass on VVPAT machines with an opaque glass.

With the Lok Sabha polls currently underway, the ADR seeks to match the count in EVMs with verifiably recorded votes and ensure voter satisfaction through VVPAT verification.

The seven-phase Lok Sabha polls began on April 19, with the second phase scheduled for April 26.

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Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Election Commission announces repolling in 11 Manipur stations

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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Lok Sabha elections 2024: All you need to know about EVMs and VVPAT; how they work

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Voting for the first phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in India was held across 102 seats on Friday, April 19, amid a legal battle in the Supreme Court wherein a batch of petitioners have sought complete cross-verification of votes polled on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips.

While reserving its order, the top court on Thursday noted that the rising voter turnout during polls was an indicator of the people’s faith in the electoral process.

There were 834 million registered voters during the 2014 elections, wherein the country managed to register a voter turnout of 66.44%, according to reports. In 2019, the number of registered voters jumped to 912 million, while the total turnout inched up to 67.40%.

In the first phase of the 2024 general elections, the voter turnout neared 64%, as per the Election Commission.

During the hearing, suggestions to revert to the old ballot voting system also came up. However, the two-judge bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Sanjiv Khanna rejected the argument that “far more technologically advanced countries” had abandoned EVMs for ballot papers.

“We have our system. It’s working well… Why should we disparage? Knowing what has happened in the past, you know the ballot box,” Justice Khanna noted.

Voting in the country has witnessed many significant changes since the first general elections in 1951-52. Voters in India today cast their votes on EVMs, which have been the subject of controversy ever since they were introduced in the country.

The new-age voting system replaced the old ballot papers fully in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections across all the 543 parliamentary constituencies.

EVM: How does it work?

An Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) majorly has two components — control unit and balloting unit — connected by a cable. While the control unit is taken care of by the polling officer, the balloting unit is kept in the voting compartment, where those eligible go one by one to cast their votes. At the polling stations, the balloting unit is mostly covered from all sides to respect the voter’s privacy.

So, how does the EVM work? When a voter reaches the poll booth, the polling officer verifies the individual’s identity and then presses the ballot button which enables the person to cast his/her vote. Once the voter reaches the ballot unit, he can see the candidates’ names and their party symbols on the machine, with ‘blue buttons’ placed next to them. Later on, the voter must press the button next to the candidate’s name of his/her choice.

The control unit has multiple buttons, with one of them being the ‘ballot’ option. As the polling officer presses this button, a red light with a ‘busy’ sign turns on. That indicates that the machine is ready to record a single vote.

Similarly, there is a green light on the ballot unit, where the voter stands. When it turns on, the voter is ready to cast his/her vote. Once the voter presses the blue button, a beep sound comes, indicating the voting process is complete.

Once all the votes are completed, the polling officer is required to press a button present on the side of the control unit, which seals the machine. Later, on the counting day, another button, named ‘result’, is used to see which candidates got how many votes. Further, the unit also has a ‘clear’ button which is used to erase all data from it.

VVPAT: Understanding its use

The Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) allows the voter to cross-check whether his/her vote was cast properly and went to the right candidate or not. Once a voter presses the blue button on the balloting unit, the VVPAT connected to the EVM generates a paper slip showcasing the name of the candidate. The slip is visible to the voter for a few seconds before it falls into the drop box in the machine.

According to reports, votes recorded on five VVPAT machines are cross-checked with the EVMs in all the Assembly segments in the present scenario. However, the petitioners in the top court have demanded 100% cross-checking of VVPAT slips with the votes recorded on EVMs.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

ECIL to deliver EVM-related equipment to Election Commission by October, cabinet minister says

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) will deliver 21 lakh equipment, including ballot units, control units and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines, to the Election Commission by October 2023, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Sunday.

The equipment supplied by the ECIL, a public sector enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy, is likely to be used in the 2024 general elections.

The ECIL and the Bharat Electronics Limited, a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, manufacture electronic voting machines and VVPATs for the Election Commission.

Also read: 7 state polls, decimating opposition, eye on 2024 Lok Sabha election — How 2022 fared for BJP

In its annual report for 2020-21, the ECIL had said it was gearing up towards mass production of EVMs required for the general elections in 2024.

Addressing the media on Sunday, Singh, the minister of state in the Prime Minister’s Office, said the 2023 Science Vision will define India in 2047, the centenary year of Independence.

Singh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had highlighted the need to take science and technology-related research to the local level in order to make India a global center of research and innovation as it marches towards the centenary of its Independence.

He said science departments of the government have already outlined their roadmap for 2023 with the Indian Space Research Organisation turning its focus on scientific exploration missions, technology demonstration missions and human spaceflight programme “Gaganyaan”.

Also read: Election Commission develops prototype of remote voting machine for migrant voters

The Department of Biotechnology would take forward the successes of COVID-19 vaccine mission by investing in the improvement of vaccines for existing and emerging diseases, Singh said.

Significantly, major missions would also be launched on millets and patho-genomics of plant viruses in the International Year of Millets.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research will also focus on Green Hydrogen as it has already made a headway in the field as part of the clean energy mission.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences will focus on the Deep Ocean Mission and technologies that will add value to India’s economy in the years to come, Singh said.

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Union Budget 2021: Law Ministry gets allocation for purchases of EVMs by EC

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Union Law Ministry has been allocated Rs 1,005 crore in the central Budget to provide funds to the Election Commission for procurement of ballot units, control units and voter verifiable paper audit trial units (VVPATS), and ancillary expenditure on EVMs and destruction of obsolete voting machines. One control unit, at least on ballot union and one VVPAT or paper trail machines constitute one EVM.

Obsolete EVMs are destroyed under the supervision of an expert unit following a set protocol. A voting machine has an average life of 15 years. The Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) and Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) are the two public sector undertakings which manufacture the EVM.

The ministry has also been allocated Rs 100 crore for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The provision is for meeting ”carry forward liability” in respect of charges for conduct of general Lok Sabha elections, the budget document said.

Another Rs 7.20 crore has been allocated for elector photo identity cards. The provision is for reimbursement of central government’s share to state and union territory governments on issuance of voter identity cards.

Under the ”other election expenses” head, the ministry has been allocated Rs 57.10 crore. The provision is for reimbursement of central government’s share on normal election expenditure to the state and Union Territory governments and the cost of preparation and printing of electoral rolls, the document said. Separately, the Election Commission has been allocated Rs 249.16 crore.

The provision is mainly for the establishment related expenditure of the poll panel and for the expenditure to be incurred on the purchase of land and pre-construction activities for additional building for the Election Commission. The additional building is to come up in Dwarka.

For full coverage on Budget 2021, click here 

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Delhi polls: 40,000 police personnel, 190 CAPF companies, 19,000 Home Guards deployed for smooth conduct of elections

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Delhi police has made adequate arrangements and deployed around 40,000 security personnel, 19,000 home guards and 190 companies of Central Armed Police Forces to ensure smooth conduct of the assembly elections in the national capital on Saturday, officials said.

Polling will begin at 8 am and will end at 6 pm on Saturday. While specific election duties have been given to Delhi Police personnel, the CAPF companies have been deployed to provide security at polling booths and movement of EVMs.

Around 19,000 Home guards from states like Uttarakhand, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh will also assist the local police in providing security at polling booths, the officials said.

A multi-layered security has been put in place at 21 counting centres and 2,689 polling premises, out of which 545 are “critical”, they said.

“Delhi Police personnel and para military forces have been deployed at critical booths so that more enforcement and better arrangement can be ensured. Patrolling has also been intensified in those localities,” said Sharat Kumar Singha, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Election Cell).

Marked by the BJP aggressively pushing the anti-CAA protests in Shaheen Bagh as a poll issue, the AAP hard selling development and the Congress conspicuous by its near absence, the bitter, often divisive campaign for the Delhi assembly elections ended on Thursday.

Additional forces have also been deployed to bolster the security of EVMs, critical booths and counting centres, he said.

Static surveillance teams and flying squads have been deployed and special checking drives are being conducted in vulnerable areas to check any attempt to influence voters by money or muscle power and other unlawful practices, police said.

“EVM transportation drill has been planned in coordination with polling officials. All necessary measures have also been taken, including from the anti-terror angle in vulnerable areas. Senior officers will closely supervise arrangements at the ground level.

“Thorough area domination will be ensured in sensitive and vulnerable areas, and all precautions will be taken to ensure smooth movement of voters to the booths,” a senor police official said.

Pickets on borders have been strengthened to check transportation of illicit liquor and other contraband. All border areas will be kept under strict vigil by regularly coordinating with counterparts of NCR police, he said.

Also, patrolling on boats in the Yamuna river is being done, he added.

According to police, since the enforcement of Model Code of Conduct, 99,210 litres of illicit liquor, with a market value of Rs 2.72 crore and 774.1 kg drugs with a market value of Rs 4.91 crore have already been seized as part of the special drives.

So far, 504 illegal fire-arms and 730 ammunition have been recovered. Besides, 7,397 licensed weapons have also been deposited as a preventive measure, police said.

Action has been taken against 7,820 people under the Excise Act.

While 5,943 persons have been booked under various sections of CRPC, 1,26,095 persons have been booked under DP Act. Besides, 529 cases have been registered under Defacement Act so far, according to the police.

Police have also issued a public appeal to report and share objectionable messages and other social media messages which violate the poll code.

The counting of votes will be taken on February 11.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Lok Sabha 2019 election results: EVM means ‘Everyone Voted Modi’, cheers Twitterati

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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As the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) surged to power, a section of Twitteratti on Thursday created a new acronym for the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) — “Everyone Voted Modi” — and made it go viral.

“EVM = Everyone Voted Modi for Central and for YS Jagan in Andhra Pradesh,” tweeted one user.

Another user tweeted: “Yes Narendra Modi Won Because Of EVM (Everyone Voted Modi).”

The Election Commission had earlier dismissed claims by Opposition parties that EVMs were being moved around in the days ahead of the counting of votes.

It also rejected allegations of discrepancies at the strong rooms where the EVMs have been kept prior to the election results.

A delegation of 22 opposition parties met the Election Commission earlier this week, demanding that VVPAT (Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail) slips should be counted before the commencement of counting of votes polled in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

They had also demanded matching of all VVPAT slips with the EVMs in an Assembly segment in case of a discrepancy in random matching.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Lok Sabha election results 2019: Here’s what we know in the controversy over EVM safety and VVPAT counting

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The controversy surrounding the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in Indian elections keeps erupting time and again. Following the conclusion of voting in the Lok Sabha elections, the opposition parties have again raised a host of issues from safety of EVMs to ensuring transparent counting of votes on Thursday.

Here’s what is known so far on the controversy ahead of counting of votes on May 23:

What is VVPAT?

Voter-verified paper audit trail or VVPAT is an independent system attached to an EVM to allow the voters to verify that their votes are cast as intended. A slip is printed on the VVPAT printer containing the serial number, name and symbol of the candidate after a vote is cast. This slip remains visible to a voter through a transparent window for seven seconds after which it drops into a sealed box. If need be, these printouts can later be counted.

What is the latest concern?

Several unsubstantiated videos and reports from a few places around the country showed EVMs being transported without the proper level of security mandated by the Election Commission guidelines. This fuelled concerns that the ruling alliance is somehow trying to swap actual EVMs with other ones. The Election Commission has dismissed these claims and said that the EVMs that were used to register votes are all kept in sealed strong rooms that are under round the clock security and electronic surveillance.

What is the opposition’s stand?

The leaders of 22 opposition parties approached the Election Commission on Tuesday with a plea to first take up the counting of voter slips of five VVPAT machines and match them with the corresponding EVMs.

Not just that, in the event of even a single discrepancy or mismatch of votes found in the initial five machines, they have asked the ECI to extend the matching exercise to all the VVPATs and EVMs in the assembly segment.

Recent Supreme Court rulings

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a PIL seeking 100 percent matching of VVPAT slips with EVMs during counting of votes on May 23.

The apex court had on May 7 dismissed a review plea filed by 21 opposition leaders led by Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu seeking that random matching of VVPAT slips with EVMs be increased to 50 percent.

The top court had on April 8 directed the Election Commission to increase random matching of VVPAT slips with EVMs from one to five polling booths per assembly segment in Lok Sabha polls, saying it would provide greater satisfaction not just to the political parties but also to the entire electorate.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow