EVM-VVPAT issue: SC to hear petition for 100% votes verification today

The Supreme Court will consider several petitions requesting the cross-verification of votes cast via the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) on Tuesday, April 16,. An elector can determine whether his vote was cast accurately by using the independent vote verification system, or VVPAT.

With the Lok Sabha elections coming up, the Supreme Court’s review of challenges on the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) for validating ballots is very important. Voters can independently confirm the veracity of their recorded votes with the help of VVPAT. These petitions highlight concerns about the process of balancing VVPAT slips and maintaining voter confidence in the electoral process.

The appeal by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) emphasizes the imperative for voters to be confident that their votes are “counted as recorded.” It calls for synchronization between the tallies in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the verifiable documentation produced by VVPATs, with the ultimate goal of bolstering voter confidence and transparency in the electoral process.

Prior directives from the court, particularly stemming from the 2013 Subramanian Swamy versus Election Commission of India case, stress the significance of voter verifiability. The current petition underscores the necessity for transparent procedures to guarantee the accurate recording and counting of votes, thus reflecting the voters’ intent.

The Supreme Court’s involvement in these petitions demonstrates continual endeavors to address concerns and uphold the integrity of the electoral process. The response from the court and subsequent measures implemented to address the issues raised by the petitioners will be of great interest.