Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Understanding VVPAT Slips and INDIA Bloc's Demands

In the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024, opposition parties within the INDIA bloc are advocating for complete (100 percent) counting of Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips to enhance public trust in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The opposition contends that the Election Commission's refusal to meet with a delegation of party leaders regarding this issue has raised concerns.

What are VVPAT Slips?

VVPAT, or Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail, was first introduced in India during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. It is a system designed for ballot-less vote verification, connected with the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM).

When a voter casts their vote using the EVM, the VVPAT generates a paper slip containing the name and symbol of the party for which the vote was cast. The voter can visually verify that their vote was recorded correctly on the EVM by checking this paper slip. The VVPAT machine also has a transparent window for the voter to see the printed slip. Eventually, the slip is sealed inside the VVPAT machine.

Demand of the INDIA Bloc:

The INDIA bloc, comprised of various opposition parties, is demanding complete counting of VVPAT slips to ensure the integrity of the electoral process and boost confidence in EVMs. Currently, only five randomly selected EVMs in each assembly segment of a Lok Sabha constituency undergo verification through the counting of VVPAT paper slips.

Recent Developments:

The Supreme Court has taken note of this demand and issued a notice to the Election Commission of India regarding a petition seeking complete counting of VVPAT paper slips in elections. The petition argues that if simultaneous verification is conducted and more officers are deployed for counting in each assembly constituency, complete VVPAT verification can be achieved in a matter of 5-6 hours.

The petition also highlights concerns raised by experts regarding VVPATs and EVMs, as well as discrepancies between EVM and VVPAT vote counts reported in the past.

This issue has been brought to the Supreme Court before, with previous rulings directing the Election Commission to increase the number of EVMs undergoing VVPAT physical verification.

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