Page 2 - Evms

Andhra MLA seen damaging EVM in CCTV footage; EC orders strict action

A CCTV footage has surfaced online where an MLA of the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) in Andhra Pradesh can be seen damaging an EVM in a poll booth. Watch the video to know what happened next.

Probe 'terrible mismanagement' of Lok Sabha polls in Kerala: Congress to EC

Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly V D Satheesan said the elections in Kerala were "grossly mismanaged", leading to considerable delays in numerous polling booths

Chasing paper trails

Supreme Court puts VVPAT controversy to rest

SC rejects pleas seeking 100% verification of EVM votes with VVPAT slips

The court also said that regressive measures to revert to paper ballots or any alternative to the EVMs that does not adequately safeguard the interests of Indian citizens have to be eschewed

SC's EVM verdict 'tight slap' to Congress-led Opposition: PM Modi

'I will not allow reservations meant for SCs, STs and OBCs to be diverted for vote bank politics. This is Modis guarantee', he said

Supreme Court rejects all pleas seeking 100% EVM-VVPAT verification

The top court was hearing petitions seeking a complete verification of VVPATs generated by EVMs during the elections

SC's EVM order: Former CECs say 100% cross-verification not needed

Former chief election commissioners Friday welcomed the Supreme Court order rejecting pleas to go back to the ballot system and hold complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with paper trail machines, and said the present system of matching results was sufficient. Delivering its verdict on a clutch of petitions, the top court said persistent doubts and despair in EVMs create distrust in the electoral process and reduce citizen participation. Former CEC O P Rawat welcomed the apex court verdict and pointed out that the Election Commission (EC) had approached the Indian Statistical Institute in 2017, seeking answers on a sample of VVPAT-EVM cross-verification to ensure 99.99 per cent voter confidence level. The ISI said a sample of 479 VVPAT count out of 10 lakh polling stations will be good enough for 99.99 per cent confidence, he told PTI. The EC decided that one polling station in every assembly segment would be identified for EVM-VVPAT match. "The figure came to 4,300

EVM-VVPAT case: What did the Election Commission tell the Supreme Court?

On April 24, the Supreme Court posed five questions to the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding the working of EVMs.

Can't control polls or pass directions on basis of suspicion, SC on EVM

The Supreme Court said on Wednesday it cannot "control the elections" or issue directions simply because doubts have been raised about the efficacy of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), as it reserved its judgement on a clutch of petitions claiming the polling devices can be tinkered with to manipulate the results. The court said it cannot change the thought process of those doubting the advantages of polling machines and advocating going back to ballot papers. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), after taking note of the answers to queries it had posed to the Election Commission. It sought answers from an official of the poll panel to five questions related to the functioning of EVMs including whether the microcontrollers fitted in them are reprogrammable. Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Nitesh Kumar Vyas, who had

Poll body answers SC's queries, Court reserves judgement in EVM-VVPAT case

The Supreme Court said it is clear from the Election Commission of India's replies that the flash memory of the microcontrollers in EVMs cannot be reprogrammed

ECIL, BEL refuse to disclose names of manufacturers of EVM, VVPAT parts

Electronics Corporation of India Ltd and Bharat Electronics Ltd have refused to disclose the names and contact details of the manufacturers and suppliers of various components of EVMs and VVPATs under the RTI Act citing "commercial confidence", according to RTI responses from the PSUs to an activist. Activist Venkatesh Nayak had filed two identical Right To Information applications with the ECIL and BEL, seeking the details of the manufacturers and suppliers of various components used in the assembling of the electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPATs). The VVPAT is an independent vote verification system which enables electors to see whether their votes have been cast correctly. The ECIL and the BEL, public sector undertakings under the Ministry of Defence, manufacture EVMs and VVPATs for the Election Commission. Nayak also sought a copy of the purchase orders for the components from both PSUs. "Information sought is in commercial confidence.

SC seeks EC clarification on EVM functioning, calls panel official at 2 pm

The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought clarification from the Election Commission on certain aspects regarding the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and summoned a senior poll panel official at 2 pm. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, which has reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), said it needs clarification on certain aspects as there was some confusion in answers given by the EC in its 'frequently asked questions' (FAQs) on EVMs. "We don't want to be wrong but doubly sure in our findings and hence we thought of seeking the clarification," the bench told Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati who was appearing for the EC. It asked Bhati to call senior Deputy Election Commissioner Nitesh Kumar Vyas at 2 PM. Vyas had earlier given a presentation to the court on the functioning of the EVMs. It flagged some points on which the court

How do EVMs and VVPAT work? General Elections

India’s 2024 Lok Sabha elections have already kicked off. Needless to say, Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) play the primary role in India’s electoral system. Here is an explainer

SC reserves verdict on cross-verification of votes using EVMs with VVPAT

The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta reserved its verdict after hearing the response of Election Commission on the pleas. The petitioners have also sought reversal of the poll panel's 2017 decision to replace the transparent glass on VVPAT machines with an opaque glass through which a voter can see the slip only when the light is on for seven seconds. Senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for the Election Commission, explained the process of how an EVM functions. Advocate Prashant Bhushan and senior advocate Gopal Sankararanarayanan appeared for the petitioners. Other lawyers represented the intervenors. On April 16, the top court had deprecated criticism of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and calls for reverting to ballot papers, saying the electoral process in India is a "humongo

'Reports of EVMs showing 1 extra vote during mock poll in Kasaragod false'

The Election Commission of India on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that allegations of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) showing one extra vote during a mock poll in Kerala's Kasaragod were false. The top court was hearing a batch of pleas seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), an independent vote verification system which enables an elector to see whether his vote was cast correctly. "These news reports are false. We have verified the allegation from the district collector and it appears that they are false. We will submit a detailed report to the court," senior deputy election commissioner Nitesh Kumar Vyas told a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta. Vyas was present in the courtroom to apprise the bench about the functioning of EVMs. Earlier during the day, the top court asked senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for the Election Commission, to look into the issue after advocate Prasha

What did the Supreme Court say about VVPATs and EVMs?

The Supreme Court on April 16 ruled out returning to ballot papers by saying the judges “have not forgotten” the past. The petitions sought cross-verification of votes cast with the VVPAT system

SC pans EVM critics, says attempts should not be made to bring down system

The Supreme Court on Tuesday deprecated criticism of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and calls for reverting to ballot papers, saying the electoral process in India is a "humongous task" and attempts should not be made to "bring down the system". It also recalled how polling booths were captured in the era of ballot papers to manipulate election results. The top court was hearing a batch of pleas seeking complete cross-verification of the votes cast using EVMs with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), an independent vote verification system which enables an elector to see whether his vote was cast correctly. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta was critical of the argument that many European countries have gone back to ballot papers after having tried out voting machines. "This is a humongous task. No European country can do this. You talked about Germany but what is the population there. My home state West Bengal is far more populous than Germany. We have

Violation of law: CIC pulls up EC for not replying to RTI query on EVMs

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has expressed "severe displeasure" over the Election Commission (EC) not furnishing a reply to an RTI plea that had asked the poll panel about the action taken on a "representation" given to it by eminent citizens, raising questions on the credibility of EVMs and VVPAT machines during elections. Terming it a "gross violation" of the law, the CIC has also directed the EC to submit a written explanation. Former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer M G Devasahayam, who was one of the signatories to the representation on the credibility of electronic voting machines (EVMs), voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) and the vote-counting process, had filed an application with the poll panel under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, seeking details of the action taken on it. The representation was sent to the EC on May 2, 2022. Through the RTI application filed on November 22, 2022, Devasahayam wanted to know about the persons and public .

SC to hear plea for cross-verification of EVMs with VVPAT by voters

The NGO had sought direction from the Election Commission and the Centre to ensure the voters are able to verify through VVPATs that their vote has been 'counted as recorded'

Congress doubts EVMs only when it faces defeat in polls, says Scindia

Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday took a swipe at Congress over the party veteran Digvijaya Singh's demand for holding elections through ballot papers, saying the Grand Old Party raises EVM issue only when it loses the electoral battle. Scindia wondered why Singh didn't raise the issue of Electronic Voting Machines when they were introduced by Congress in the past. Singh, the Congress nominee from Rajgarh Lok Sabha constituency, on Monday, said he was trying to get 400 people to file nominations so that polls will be held through ballot papers. Singh has been demanding the introduction of ballot papers for conducting elections, raising doubts over the credibility of EVMs. "He has a problem with everything. Why didn't he raise questions when Congress introduced EVMs? He has been raising questions on EVMs for the past 10-15 years. No question is asked by Congress (on EVM credibility) when it wins but a lot of doubts are raised when they lose," said Scindia while respondi