As the nation gears up for the first phase of voting on April 19, 2024, the Supreme Court of India has announced its intention to address petitions advocating for the 100% verification of Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips. This decision comes amidst ongoing discussions regarding the transparency and integrity of the electoral process.
The VVPAT machine, an integral component of the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), plays a crucial role in providing voters with visual verification of their cast votes. It generates a paper slip displaying the voter's choice, which is briefly displayed behind a glass window for verification before being dropped into a compartment below. This mechanism aims to enhance trust in the voting process by allowing for physical verification of electronically cast votes.
The concept of the VVPAT machine was first proposed in 2010 during discussions between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and political parties, with the goal of enhancing transparency in EVM-based polling. Following extensive field trials and approval by an expert committee of the ECI, the VVPAT was gradually introduced across polling stations, with 100% adoption by June 2017.
The Supreme Court's involvement in the matter dates back to the Subramanian Swamy vs Election Commission of India Case in 2013, where it mandated the use of VVPATs for transparent elections. Subsequent petitions have raised issues such as the minimum percentage of VVPAT slips to be counted, with the Election Commission expressing concerns about potential delays in declaring election results and infrastructure limitations.
Statistical data provided by the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) has been instrumental in determining the appropriate sample size for the internal audit of VVPAT slips. While initially, the Election Commission matched VVPAT paper slips of a limited number of EVMs, the Supreme Court's ruling in 2019 expanded the scope to include five electronic voting machines in every constituency.
The Indian Statistical Institute, renowned for its contributions to various fields, has been pivotal in providing mathematical and statistical insights into the efficacy of VVPAT verification. Collaborating with governmental and industrial entities, ISI continues to play a crucial role in ensuring the integrity of electoral processes.
With the upcoming Supreme Court session to address petitions regarding VVPAT verification, the focus remains on upholding the principles of transparency and accountability in India's democratic framework. As citizens prepare to exercise their right to vote, the judiciary's scrutiny of electoral mechanisms underscores the commitment to fair and free elections.
