On April 26, the Supreme Court declined to revive paper ballots and upheld the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs). The Court emphasized the need for caution when questioning the integrity of the electoral process but rejected a request for mandatory cross-verification of all EVM votes with paper slips. The Election Commission of India was directed to implement measures to enhance the security of the EVM system.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court is expected to announce directions on a series of petitions demanding thorough cross-validation of votes cast using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs). VVPAT is a standalone vote verification system that allows voters to verify that their votes have been recorded correctly. The court’s directions will be delivered by a bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta. During the hearings, the court emphasized the significance of voter satisfaction and trust in the electoral process, urging petitioners not to doubt the effectiveness of EVMs and to recognize the efforts of the Election Commission.
