SC Maintains EVMs and VVPAT System

By Gunja Maurya
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Introduction

  • The Supreme Court (SC) recently rejected a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought to replace electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter verifiable paper audit trails (VVPAT) with paper ballots.
  • The SC reaffirmed faith in the EVMs’ mechanism and the safeguards in place, emphasizing that they are frequently only questioned after electoral defeats.

What is the Controversy Regarding EVMs? 

  • Controversy
    • Before elections, and particularly after losing, several political parties have accused EVMs of being tampered with, casting doubt on their credibility.
    • EVM reliability was questioned in 2009 by the losing party in the general elections.
    • After the 2019 Lok Sabha elections ended, the opposition parties brought up the question of EVM integrity once more.
    • After five states held assembly elections in 2020, the controversy reappeared.
  • Election Commission’s Response: The Election Commission has continuously maintained the validity of EVMs, claiming that they are impenetrable and unchangeable through technical expert assessments.
  • Supreme Court Response: The SC dismissed the call for a return to ballot papers as unsound, ruling that several administrative procedures and technical safeguards with strict checks have been put in place to avoid EVM tampering.

What are EVMs and VVPATs?  

  • EVM
    • EVMs are portable devices used for elections to state legislatures, the parliament, and local governments such as municipalities and panchayats.
    • It is a device that uses a microcontroller and is intended for a single vote and post.
  • Components of EVMs: The ballot unit and the control unit are the two components that make up an EVM. A cable connects these units to one another. It guarantees that your identification will be confirmed by the poll worker.
    • Control Unit: The polling officer or the presiding officer keeps the EVM’s control unit.
    • Ballot Unit: To allow voters to cast their ballots, the balloting unit is housed within the voting chamber.
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  • Evolution of EVMs in India
Year Event 
1977 Concept of EVM conceived. 
1979 Prototype developed by ECIL, Hyderabad. 
1980 EVMs demonstrated by the Election Commission in August ; directives issued under Article 324. 
1982 EVMs used in Kerala’s Parur by-elections; legality challenged by the SC. 
1988 Representation of People Act amended (Section 61A) to empower ECI to use EVMs. 
1990 The Dinesh Goswami Committee recommended EVMs as technically sound and secure. 
1998 EVMs used in 16 Assembly elections. 
1999-2000 Expanded use in 46 parliamentary seats (1999) and Haryana Assembly polls (2000). 
2001 Full use in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, and West Bengal Assembly elections. 
2004 EVMs used nationwide in Lok Sabha elections. 
2013 VVPAT was introduced via amendment to the Conduct of Election Rules; first used in Nagaland by-election. 
2019 First Lok Sabha election fully backed by VVPAT. 
  • VVPAT: Voters may verify that their votes are being recorded correctly via VVPAT.
    • A slip with the candidate’s name, symbol, and serial number is printed when a vote is cast.
    • After seven seconds of visibility via a transparent glass, it is automatically sliced and placed in a sealed box for storage.
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Which safeguards are used to ensure the integrity of the EVM?

  • Technical Safeguards
    • Functionality: The Control Unit (CU), Ballot Unit (BU), and VVPAT components of an EVM. By printing a slip with the candidate’s name, symbol, and serial number, VVPAT enables visual verification.
    • Microcontroller Security: Once manufactured, the microcontrollers cannot be changed since they are One-Time Programmable (OTP). The machine is permanently disabled if the microcontroller is physically accessed.
    • Manufacturing: EVMs are only produced by reputable Public-Sector Undertakings (PSUs), such as Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
    • Standalone Operation: EVMs eliminate the possibility of remote tampering by operating without wired or wireless communication.
    • Advanced M3 EVMs (Post-2013): It has reciprocal authentication to prevent unwanted device access and tamper detection to stop the computer if it is accessed without authorization.
    • EVM Management System (EMS 2.0): It ensures security during storage and transit by monitoring and controlling EVM movements.
  • Administrative Protocols
    • First-Level Check (FLC): BEL/ECIL engineers perform visual inspection, cleaning, and operational testing. To check performance, dummy symbols are loaded for mock polling.
    • Randomised EVM Allocation: To avoid preset assignments, EVMs are distributed at random across voting places and assembly seats. With Election Commission observers present, the EMS 2.0 technology is used for randomization.
    • Candidate Setting: Commissioning’ candidate details in EVMs are loaded only once the final candidate list is ready. To guarantee accuracy, mock polls are carried out at various points, including prior to election day.
    • Counting Day Procedures: EVMs are used at counting tables that are monitored by CCTV. VVPAT slips from five polling places in each assembly seat are randomly cross-verified.
    • EVM Storage Protocols: Kept under armed police and CCTV supervision in strongrooms with a single point of access and departure. After voting, EVMs are transported in GPS-tracked trucks, and double-lock systems are utilized, with different authorities holding the keys.
    • Periodic Inspections: To guarantee safe storage conditions, District Election Officers examine EVM warehouses once a month.

What are Advantages of the EVMs Over Ballot Papers? 

  • No External Input: Unlike paper ballots, which need lights and other facilities for human counting, electronic voting machines (EVMs) can operate in distant locations since they are powered by batteries or power packs.
  • Elimination of Invalid Votes: EVMs allow voters to cast ballots by pushing a button, preventing illegitimate votes—a issue that is frequently linked to ballots that are damaged or wrongly marked.
  • Prevention of Booth Capturing: Since EVMs are designed to only accept four votes per minute, it is extremely improbable that fraudulent voting will occur quickly in booth-capturing circumstances. It is impossible to cast another vote after pressing the ‘Close’ button on the control unit.
  • Transparency in Vote Count: Transparency and vote confidentiality are maintained by the Control Unit’s ‘Total’ button, which shows the total number of votes cast without disclosing candidate-by-candidate results.
  • Prevention of Pre-Programming Manipulation: Long before elections, during the manufacturing process, the microcontroller is programmed with the original EVM program, which is impartial towards political parties and candidates.
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Conclusion 

Elections in India have been transformed by EVMs with VVPAT, which provide efficiency, precision, and transparency in comparison to conventional ballots. Strict administrative procedures and technical protections guarantee their integrity in spite of skepticism. Despite ongoing worries, the Election Commission and Supreme Court maintain that EVMs are safe, boosting confidence in India’s democratic procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

  • Has the SC Addressed Allegations of EVM Tampering?

    Yes, the SC has repeatedly upheld EVMs’ integrity, citing robust security measures and dismissing tampering claims.

  • What Is the Role of VVPAT in Elections?

    VVPAT provides a physical record of votes cast, allowing voters to verify their selections and ensuring accountability during disputes.

  • What Are EVMs and How Do They Work?

    EVMs are electronic devices that replace paper ballots, making voting and counting more efficient and secure.

  • What Steps Ensure the Security of EVMs and VVPATs?

    Strict protocols, rigorous testing, and bipartisan oversight ensure the security and integrity of these systems.

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