Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have revolutionized India’s electoral process, ensuring efficiency, transparency, and accuracy in voting. From their initial trials to complete implementation in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, EVMs have undergone multiple technological advancements and the various judicial precedents have dealt with the constitutional validity of the same.
Today, On 13th December, the Supreme Court rejected a PIL regarding voting rights for expatriate citizens, stating it lacked jurisdiction to compel Parliament. Petitioner Savya Sachi Krishnan Nigam highlighted a stalled Election Commission proposal from 2020. The court permitted him to withdraw the petition, suggesting alternative forums for the issue.
Today(on 29th April), The Supreme Court of India declined a new plea to increase VVPAT verification against EVM votes, citing adequacy of current scrutiny. The plea aimed to raise verified EVMs per assembly segment during Lok Sabha elections from five to a higher number. This decision reinforces the court’s stance on maintaining the status quo for VVPAT verification.
Today(on 18th April), The Supreme Court of India has reserved judgment on petitions seeking cross-verification between EVM and VVPAT votes. The decision, presided over by a bench led by Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, addresses concerns about the reliability of the VVPAT system as an additional layer of verification in electronic voting processes.
