Lok Sabha Election 2024: Supreme Court’s 3rd Order Recommends Significant Change in Voting Process

The landmark judgment by the Supreme Court emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of the election process and the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to ensure voters’ confidence. The court’s direction to the Election Commission, a constitutional body, aims to strengthen the election process for free and fair elections.

The Supreme Court had previously issued orders to enhance the integrity of the election process, such as making the installation of Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines mandatory in 2013 and requiring the tallying of VVPAT slips in 2019. In the recent judgment, Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta highlighted the benefits of EVMs and suggested measures to bolster the integrity of the election process.

One of the directions involves sealing the Symbol Loading Unit after the completion of the symbol loading process and storing it for at least 45 days. Furthermore, candidates can request the verification of the EVMs concerned, including checking the burnt memory in the micro-controller EVM, within seven days of the declaration of results to address any doubts swiftly.

The court also emphasized the suitability of EVMs for a large nation like India, citing their ability to prevent booth capturing and minimize invalid votes. Additionally, EVMs reduce paper usage, streamline the counting process, and provide administrative convenience.

The judges expressed confidence in the security and simplicity of EVMs and highlighted the successful tallying of VVPAT slips with votes cast by electors. They cautioned against reverting to the paper ballot system and burdening the Election Commission with the task of 100% VVPAT slips tallying, emphasizing the challenges faced in conducting elections on a massive scale.

The court’s judgment affirmed the efficacy of EVMs and their role in ensuring the integrity of the election process.