Supreme Court Upholds Use of EVMs, Rejects Calls for Paper Ballots

The Supreme Court of India has dismissed arguments criticizing the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) in the country's electoral process. The court stated that conducting elections in India is a "humongous task" and attempts should not be made to "bring down the system".

During the hearing, the court recalled instances of polling booths being captured in the era of ballot papers to manipulate election results. The bench directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to provide details on the entire process of EVMs, from their assembling to storage after vote counting.

The court emphasized the need to repose faith and trust in the electoral process, noting that while there may be some human errors, they can be countered and checked. The court also questioned the ECI about the installation of CCTV cameras in polling booths and the punishment for officials who manipulate EVMs.

Why this matters: The Supreme Court's decision to uphold the use of EVMs and VVPATs in Indian elections has significant implications for the integrity and credibility of the country's democratic process. The ruling comes at a pivotal time, with the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls set to begin on April 19, 2024.

The petitioners, including the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and activist Arun Kumar Agarwal, had sought comprehensive cross-verification of all VVPAT slips to instill confidence among voters. However, the court questioned the feasibility of the suggestion, given India's large population of around 97 crore registered voters.

The court also noted the lack of strict punishment for tampering with EVMs and emphasized the need for stringent measures to deter any potential manipulation. The ECI explained the security measures in place, including sealing the machines in the presence of candidate representatives.

The Supreme Court's ruling comes as a setback for those advocating for a return to paper ballots . The court dismissed the idea of drawing comparisons with European countries, stating that the state of West Bengal alone has a larger population than Germany. The bench argued that human intervention through tallying in polls can lead to more problems and biases, and that machine-based voting without human intervention will give more accurate results.

Key Takeaways

• SC dismisses criticism of EVMs and VVPATs, emphasizes trust in electoral process.
• SC recalls instances of ballot box capture, directs ECI to provide EVM details.
• SC questions feasibility of comprehensive VVPAT verification, cites India's large population.
• SC rejects idea of returning to paper ballots, says machine-based voting is more accurate.
• SC calls for stringent measures to deter EVM tampering, notes lack of strict punishment.