Today, 1st May, The Poll Body responded to the Supreme Court’s recent directive concerning Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) units, outlining its stance and plans for compliance. This response comes amidst heightened scrutiny and discussions regarding the integrity and security of electoral processes.
New Delhi: The Election Commission updated its procedures for managing and storing Symbol Loading Units (SLUs) in accordance with a Supreme Court mandate. This directive requires that these devices, which are essential for configuring voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines with candidate details and symbols, be sealed and safeguarded in a container.
Additionally, they must be stored in a secure vault together with the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for at least 45 days after the election results are declared.
EVMs consist of three main components are the ballot unit, control unit, and the VVPAT itself. The SLU plays a critical role by loading the names and symbols of the candidates into the VVPATs for the elections. In response to the judicial instructions.
The Election Commission issued a notice on Wednesday directing all state chief electoral officers to establish the necessary infrastructure and protocols to comply with these revised guidelines for the secure handling and storage of SLUs.
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The Commission stated,
“As mandated by the Supreme Court, the revised protocols are applicable in all cases of completion of the symbol loading process in the VVPATs undertaken on or after May 1, 2024.”
Prior to this Supreme Court directive, the Symbol Loading Units (SLUs) distributed to local polling officials.
During the extensive seven-phase electoral process, the first phase saw 102 constituencies casting their votes, followed by 89 constituencies voting on April 26. The upcoming phase is slated for May 7. The final count of the votes is scheduled to take place on June 4, concluding the series of polling events.
The court’s decision mandates specific guidelines and protocols for the deployment and management of EVMs to ensure transparency and security during elections. In its comprehensive reply, the polling body outlines the measures it will implement to comply with the court’s requirements. This includes enhancing the technical safeguards of the EVMs, increasing the training for personnel involved in elections, and introducing additional oversight mechanisms.
The response also highlights the organization’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring that the use of technology adheres to the highest standards of electoral fairness and accuracy.