Over 4 Crore VVPAT Slips Verified, No Mismatch Ever Found; EVM Tampering Impossible : ECI Tells Supreme Court

The Election Commission of India has told the Supreme Court that no mismatch has been detected ever between the votes counted in the Electronic Voting Machines and the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail slips (VVPATs).The ECI said that it has matched the EVM votes with more than 4 crore VVPAT slips and no instance of mismatch has been found so far. The ECI stated this in the written statement filed in response to the queries raised by the Supreme Court (on April 16) while hearing petitions seeking complete verification of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) data against the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail slips (VVPATs). The bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta reserved judgment in the matter today.The queries raised by the Court and the ECI's responses are given below. Issue 1. WHETHER ALL THE 3 UNITS AND VVPAT BU, CU WHICH ARE USED TOGETHER TO CONDUCT THE POLL STORED TOGETHER? Yes. The Ballot Unit(BU), CU(Control Unit) and VVPAT together constitute the EVM and all three units are stored ED in the Strong Rooms after the election which is sealed in the presence of the candidates/their agents. The EVMs are stored for a period of at least 45 days in the Strong Rooms, i.e. the period for filing of Election Petitions. Issue 2. WHETHER ANY SOFTWARE IS INSERTED IN VVPAT AT THE TIME OF SYMBOL LOADING? The VVPAT is only a printer. No software is involved in the loading of symbols in VVPAT by SLU. No software is uploaded or can be uploaded in the VVPAT through SLU.During the symbol loading process, there is no scope for inserting any program or application onto VVPATs as VVPATs can accept only image file of specified format (.bmp) containing serial number, candidate details and their symbols. Any file in any other format will not get loaded onto VVPATS.Upon Symbol Loading a test printout is signed and certified by the Returning Officer / Assistant Returning Officer.Entire process is conducted in the presence of contesting candidates or their agents/representatives and it is also shown on a big monitor / TV Screen. Issue 3. PARTICIPATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND CANDIDATES IN THE PROCESS OF DEPLOYMENT OF EVM - VVPATS. Entire process from procurement of machines from BEL/ECIL till storage after counting is represented in Chart Form which is annexed as ANNEXURE - A from page 10 to 11. (Annexure A is available at the end of the story). Detailed procedures are provided in EVM Manual [Annexure - C/40 of ECI Counter at page 560 (Vol. II)]. Issue 4. WHETHER POLLING OFFICER HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE RESULT OF THE POLLING STATION DURING THE POLL DAY? No. Polling Officer cannot see the Result as the "Result" button is sealed. Polling officer does not have the access to see the results on the poll day as prior to the start of actual polls the 'Result' section of Control Unit is sealed in the presence of the polling agents with their signatures affixed on the seals. Issue 5. WHETHER, AFTER POLLING, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF TAMPERING OF EVMS? No tampering is possible in EVM at any stage.After completion of poll the Presiding Officer presses the Close' button. Thereafter, the EVM does not accept any vote. The poll start time' and 'end time' are recorded in the machine as well as by the Presiding Officer. After the close of poll, the Control Unit is switched off and thereafter the Ballot Unit is disconnected from the Control Unit and kept separately in their respective carrying cases and sealed with paper slips on which polling agents also sign.Further, the Presiding officer has to hand over to each polling agent a copy of the account of total votes recorded in Form 17-C - Part 1 [Form 17-C is annexed as ANNEXURE - B from page 12 to 4.At the time of counting of votes, the total votes recorded in a particular control unit is tallied with the account of votes in Form 17-C and if there is any discrepancy, Counting Agents of candidates can request for counting VVPAT paper slips under Rule 56(D). Issue 6. WHAT ARE THE PENAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE ATTEMPT AT MANIPULATION WITH THE ELECTORAL PROCESS/EVM? Section 131 of RP Act, 1951 - Penalty for disorderly conduct in or near polling stations: Presiding Officer can direct Police Officer to immediately arrest such person punishment - imprisonment for 3 months or fine or both. Section 132 of RP Act, 1951- Penalty for misconduct at the polling station: Presiding Officer can direct for removal of such person from Polling Station - punishment imprisonment for 3 months or fine or both. Section 134 of RP Act, 1951- Breaches of official duty in connection with elections: Any act or omission on part of officers tasked with election duty is punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees. Section 136 of RP Act, 1951- Other offences and penalties thereof: fraudulently defacing ballot paper, fraudulently or without authority destroying, opening...

Over 4 Crore VVPAT Slips Verified, No Mismatch Ever Found; EVM Tampering Impossible : ECI Tells Supreme Court

Gyanvi Khanna

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