In a significant development underscoring the integrity of India's electoral process, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has affirmed to the Supreme Court that no discrepancies have been found between the votes recorded in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips. This assurance comes as a response to queries raised during hearings on petitions seeking complete verification of EVM data against VVPAT slips.
The ECI's statement is grounded in meticulous scrutiny, with over 4 crore VVPAT slips scrutinized to date without detecting any instance of mismatch. This robust validation process not only reinforces confidence in the electoral machinery but also dispels concerns regarding the accuracy and reliability of the voting system.
The queries posed by the Supreme Court and the subsequent responses provided by the Election Commission shed light on various aspects of the electoral process, emphasizing transparency and accountability at every stage.
One key revelation pertains to the deployment of EVMs and VVPATs, where it is clarified that all three units—Ballot Unit (BU), Control Unit (CU), and VVPAT—are stored together in sealed strong rooms following elections, ensuring the integrity and security of the voting apparatus. Additionally, the absence of software insertion in VVPATs during symbol loading underscores the tamper-proof design of the voting machines.
Moreover, the active participation of political parties and candidates in the deployment process, coupled with stringent penal provisions to deter electoral malpractices, further fortifies the robustness of India's electoral framework. Sections 131, 132, 134, and 136 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, delineate penalties for disorderly conduct, misconduct, breaches of official duty, and other electoral offenses, reaffirming the ECI's commitment to upholding the sanctity of the electoral process.
The meticulous procedures outlined by the Election Commission also address concerns regarding the possibility of tampering with EVMs post-polling. Strict protocols, including sealing the result button and disconnecting the Ballot Unit from the Control Unit after polling, ensure the integrity of the voting data until it is counted.
Furthermore, the technical intricacies involved in counting VVPAT slips—such as the verification of unique IDs, segregation of candidate-wise slips, and manual counting procedures—are elucidated to underscore the meticulousness of the verification process.
The ECI's proactive measures, including the establishment of a Technical Experts Committee comprising independent experts, and timely responses to queries from parliamentary committees, reflect a commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement in the electoral process.
As India continues its democratic journey, characterized by the world's largest electoral exercises, the Election Commission's steadfast adherence to integrity and transparency serves as a beacon of trust and confidence for citizens and stakeholders alike. The reaffirmation of the accuracy and reliability of EVMs and VVPATs underscores the ECI's unwavering commitment to upholding the democratic ideals enshrined in the Constitution.
