The Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) systems are integral to the electoral process, used in conjunction with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). These systems provide voters with the ability to confirm that their votes are accurately recorded. Currently, the Election Commission of India (ECI) employs a VVPAT-based audit process, wherein a uniform sample of five EVMs from each Assembly constituency is selected for a manual verification of the VVPAT slips against the tallies produced by the EVMs. This process aims to uphold the integrity and accuracy of electronic voting.
Critics of the existing audit methodology argue that the current sample size is insufficient and does not align with statistical principles, potentially resulting in significant margins of error. There is an increasing call from various stakeholders, including political parties and civil society organizations, to enhance the sample size considerably. Some advocates even propose a complete manual count of VVPAT slips to guarantee maximum transparency and accuracy.
The primary motivation behind these demands stems from concerns over possible discrepancies between the results recorded by the EVMs and the corresponding VVPAT slips. Such discrepancies could undermine public confidence in the electoral process. Larger sample sizes or a full count are perceived as methods to boost public trust in election outcomes, particularly in regions where elections are closely contested.
The Supreme Court of India has previously mandated the implementation of VVPATs to promote transparency and trust in elections. However, the Court has been approached once again due to dissatisfaction with the existing auditing practices. The Supreme Court has directed that the audit process must be sufficiently robust to accurately verify EVM results, addressing concerns regarding the adequacy of the current sample size and the overall transparency of the audit process.
The Court has emphasized the necessity for the ECI to clarify and potentially revise its methodologies. This revision should align with principles of statistical accuracy and electoral integrity, ensuring that public confidence in the electoral process is maintained.
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