Election Commission Receives Applications for EVM Verification Post Polls in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha
News Mania Desk/ Agnibeena Ghosh/22nd June 2024
The Election Commission (EC) has reported receiving 11 applications for the verification of burnt memory/microcontroller of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) following the conclusion of the Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. This initiative aims to ensure transparency and address any concerns related to tampering or modification of voting machines post-election results.
According to the EC’s statement released on Thursday, a total of eight applications were filed for the Lok Sabha elections and three for the State Legislative Assemblies. These applications are in line with the EC’s standard operating procedure (SOP) issued on June 1, which outlines protocols and safeguards for the verification process.
The SOP mandates that the State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) communicates the consolidated list of applicants to the manufacturers within 30 days from the date of result declaration, which in this case is by July 4. Candidates who finished second or third behind the highest polled candidate are eligible to request verification of EVM components in up to five percent of units per Assembly Constituency (AC) or Assembly Segment (AS) of a Parliamentary Constituency.
The EC clarified that CEOs have already informed the manufacturers 15 days ahead of schedule, as per the SOP requirements. The verification process can commence within four weeks after the verification status of Election Petitions (EP) filed in respective constituencies is confirmed by the Registrars of the High Courts.
Highlighting the procedural timeline, the EC specified that the EP filing deadline for the current election cycle is July 19, which is 45 days from the date of result declaration. Subsequently, manufacturers will issue schedules for EVM checking and verification within two weeks of receiving EP status from concerned CEOs. The actual checking and verification of EVM units will begin within four weeks of the EP status confirmation.
Further technical SOPs detailing the methodology and steps for EVM checking and verification will be issued by the EC before the conclusion of the election petition period.
This initiative underscores the EC’s commitment to maintaining electoral integrity and addressing any concerns raised regarding the functioning and security of EVMs used in the recently concluded elections. It also aims to uphold public trust in the electoral process by ensuring transparency and accountability in the handling of voting equipment.
