Election Commission Revises EVM Protocol Following Supreme Court Order

The Election Commission has made changes to the protocol for the handling and storage of Symbol Loading Units (SLUs) following directions from the Supreme Court. The court had ordered that the machines should be sealed, secured in a container, and stored in a strong room along with the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for at least 45 days after the results are declared. An EVM consists of three components: the ballot unit, control unit, and VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail).

The SLU is used to upload the names and symbols of candidates contesting a particular seat onto the VVPAT or paper trail machines. The poll authority stated that all state chief electoral officers have been instructed to establish the necessary infrastructure and provisions to implement the new protocols for handling and storing the SLUs. According to the Commission, the revised protocols mandated by the Supreme Court are applicable in all cases of completion of the symbol loading process in VVPATs undertaken on or after May 1, 2024.

Before the Supreme Court’s order, the SLUs were handed over to local poll officials. In the recent seven-phase polls, 102 constituencies voted during the first phase, and 89 seats voted on April 26. The next phase is scheduled on May 7, with the votes being counted on June 4.