Lok Sabha elections: EC receives 8 pleas seeking verification of EVMs, VVPAT units

The Election Commission has received eight applications from Lok Sabha candidates from the BJP, Congress, DMDK and YSRCP.

According to the EC’s standard operating procedure, the chief electoral officers (CEOs) have informed the EVM manufacturers of the list of applications for verification. (File Photo)

The Election Commission (EC) Thursday said it had received eight applications for verification of the burnt memory of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units from candidates in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, a first since the Supreme Court order in April allowing the verification on the request of the runners-up in any election.

In a statement, the EC said three applications had been received from BJP candidates in Ahmednagar (Maharashtra), Vellore (Tamil Nadu) and Zahirabad (Telangana); three from Congress candidates in Kanker (Chhattisgarh), Faridabad (Haryana) and Karnal (Haryana); and one each from the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) candidate in Virudhunagar (Tamil Nadu) and the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) candidate from Vizianagaram (Andhra Pradesh). In all, the applications came from 92 polling stations in eight Parliamentary constituencies.

The Supreme Court had in April given the second and third place candidates the option to seek verification of the burnt memories of 5% of EVMs per Assembly segment or constituency. The EC then drafted the SOP, which says candidates who wish to apply for verification must do so within seven days of the results and deposit `40,000 per EVM.

An EC source said the right of filing election petitions, which is available to all candidates and voters, within 45 days of the results and the right of the runners-ups to seek verification had to be balanced.

In case of an election petition, the EVMs are kept in storage so they can be examined. If there is no election petition filed in 45 days, the applications for verification can proceed. The technical SOP, of what will be shown to the applicants and how the verification will be carried out, was being drafted, the source said. As per the administrative SOP issued by the EC on June 1, the process of verification would only start after the 45-day period allowed for all candidates and voters to file an election petition challenging an election – which for the Lok Sabha elections would be till July 19.

The chief electoral officers have informed the EVM manufacturers of the list of applications for verification.

Damini Nath

Damini Nath is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. She covers the housing and urban affairs and Election Commission beats. She has 11 years of experience as a reporter and sub-editor. Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she was a reporter with The Hindu’s national bureau covering culture, social justice, housing and urban affairs and the Election Commission. Expertise Key Coverage Areas: Damini Nath currently specializes in reporting on two crucial beats: Housing and Urban Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis and reporting on India's urban development, policy, and housing issues. Election Commission (EC): Offering authoritative coverage of electoral processes, policies, and the functioning of India's constitutional body responsible for conducting elections. Professional Background: Her extensive experience includes roles as a reporter and sub-editor, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the journalistic process from fieldwork to final production. Previous Role: Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she served as a dedicated reporter with The Hindu’s national bureau, where her reporting portfolio included: Culture Social Justice Housing and Urban Affairs The Election Commission beat (a consistent area of focus). Trustworthiness Damini Nath's decade-plus career at two of India's most respected and authoritative news institutions, The Indian Express and The Hindu, underscores her commitment to factual, impartial, and high-quality reporting, establishing her as a trusted and credible source for news on urban governance and electoral matters. ... Read More

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