Results for: Election Commission of India

The Supreme Court has sought answers from the Election Commission of India (ECI) on the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during a hearing on petitions demanding complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). The court queried the ECI on whether the microcontrollers installed in EVMs can be reprogrammed and sought clarification on other aspects of EVM operation. Despite the absence of plans to revert to ballot paper, the court indicated its willingness to consider directions for strengthening the EVM system. The court’s move follows concerns raised over the accuracy and reliability of EVMs. Currently, VVPAT slips of a limited number of EVMs are verified, but petitioners are seeking more extensive verification to ensure voter confidence in the electoral process.

Hyderabad South Zone Deputy Commissioner of Police, P. Sai Chaitanya, has been transferred as directed by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The ECI, in a communication to Chief Secretary A. Santhi Kumari, requested the officer to immediately hand over his responsibilities to an official of lower rank, who should not be assigned any election-related work until the end of the Lok Sabha elections. The Chief Secretary, in orders issued on Wednesday, asked the Director General of Police to execute the necessary actions.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has clarified before the Supreme Court that all three units of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) – ballot unit, control unit, and VVPAT – have their own microcontrollers which are sealed after the polling is over. This clarification was provided in response to a batch of petitions seeking 100% verification of EVM votes with their Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips. The ECI also confirmed that the microcontrollers used in the poll process are “one-time programmable” and cannot be changed later. The top court had earlier ordered the ECI to increase the VVPAT slips from one EVM per Assembly constituency to five and issued guidelines for mandatory verification of VVPAT slips from randomly selected polling stations after completing the final round of counting votes recorded in EVMs.

The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in India, including the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala. The voting for Pathanamthitta will be held on April 26, 2024, as part of Phase 2 of the elections. The results will be declared on June 4, 2024. The key candidates in the fray include Anil K Antony from Bharatiya Janata Party, Dr. TM Thomas Isaac from Communist Party Of India (Marxist), and Anto Antony from Indian National Congress. In the 2019 General Assembly Elections, Anto Antony of INC won the seat with a margin of 44,243 votes.

The Election Commission of India (EC) has announced the dates for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The polls will be held in 7 phases from April 19 to June 1, covering a total of 543 constituencies. The results will be declared on June 4, 2024. In Rajasthan, the BJP won all 25 parliamentary seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. However, in 2019, the BJP bagged 24 seats while the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) managed to secure the other remaining seat. In Kota, BJP’s Om Birla is contesting against Congress nominee Prahlad Gunjal in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The Supreme Court is set to issue directives on pleas seeking complete cross-checking of electronic voting machine (EVM) counts with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) paper slips. The Election Commission of India (ECI) maintains that EVMs are tamper-proof and has conducted extensive random verifications. The court has previously expressed skepticism about claims of suspicion but remains open to reviewing EVM performance.

The Supreme Court of India is expected to pronounce its orders on Wednesday, April 20, on pleas seeking a complete cross-verification of votes cast using Electronic Voter Machines (EVMs) with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines. The bench, comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, had earlier expressed reluctance to suspect the efficacy of EVMs during the hearing.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered the immediate transfer of Director-General (Intelligence) P. Sitaramanjaneyulu and NTR Police Commissioner Kanthi Rana Tata. The officers have been instructed to hand over their responsibilities to their successors and are prohibited from performing any election-related duties.

The Supreme Court is set to announce its verdict on a batch of petitions requesting that Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips be verified with votes cast electronically through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during elections. The case highlights concerns regarding the integrity of EVMs and the need for transparency in the electoral process.

The ongoing political controversy over the inclusion of Punjab’s former chief minister Beant Singh’s picture in Ravneet Singh Bittu’s election banners took a new turn in Ludhiana on Tuesday. A single person named Sunny claimed ownership of all the properties where the BJP’s candidate’s publicity material was displayed. These properties are located in prime areas of the city, including Malhar Road, Pakhowal Road, and Gurdev Nagar.

The NOCs (no-objection certificates) accompanying the banners state that the property owners have permitted the party to install the banners without charge from April 19 to June 5. However, the contact number provided in the NOCs was found to be invalid. This has raised questions about the validity of the NOCs and the involvement of the party in circumventing the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) guidelines.

According to ECI regulations, self-declaration/NOCs from property owners are mandatory for the display of posters and banners on private properties. It is noteworthy that most of the properties where the banners have been erected are vacant plots or unoccupied spaces.

BJP’s state general secretary, Anil Sareen, said the district unit typically handles such matters, and he would discuss the issue with the relevant party in-charge. BJP’s district chief, Rajnish Dhiman, could not be reached for comment.

The controversy sparked after Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring criticized Bittu for using his grandfather’s legacy for political gain. Bittu countered that his grandfather’s contribution to Punjab had been neglected by the Congress, and that the BJP values martyrs, hence his decision to include his photograph in his campaign posters.