Election Commission Revises Protocol for Handling EVM Units Following Supreme Court Order

The Election Commission has made changes to the protocol for handling and storing SLUs (symbol loading units) in response to a directive from the Supreme Court. The court ordered that the machines should be sealed and stored in a strongroom along with the EVMs for at least 45 days after the election results are declared. An EVM consists of three components: the ballot unit, control unit, and VVPAT.

SLUs are used to load the name and symbol of candidates onto VVPAT or paper trail machines. The Commission has directed all state chief electoral officers to create the necessary infrastructure and provisions to implement the new protocols for handling and storing the SLUs. The revised protocols are applicable in all cases of completion of the symbol loading process in the VVPATs undertaken on or after May 1, 2024, in accordance with the Supreme Court order.

Prior to this, SLUs were handed over to local poll officials. During the seven-phase polls, 102 constituencies went to the polls in the first phase, with 89 seats voting on April 26. The next phase is scheduled for May 7, and the votes will be counted on June 4.