SC notice to EC on VVPAT verification

SC notice to EC on VVPAT verification

News

The Supreme Court has sought a response from the Election Commission (EC) on increasing the tallying count and cross-verify the VVPAT in at least 30% randomly chosen polling stations within each Assembly segment/constituency.

Important Facts

1. According to the petition filed, the fraction of polling stations chosen for random cross-verification has been very low (less than 1% of polling stations in each constituency). The petitioners argue that this is arbitrary, irrational, unreasonable and in violation of Article 14 of the Constitution

VVPATs:

1. The Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) is a method that provides feedback to voters.
2. It is an independent verification printer machine and is attached to electronic voting machines. It allows voters to verify if their vote has gone to the intended candidate.
3. In 2013, the SC had asked the Election Commission to introduce paper trails in EVMs o that the voter can satisfy himself that his vote was accurately recorded.