New Delhi: The Election Commission of India is unlikely to give in to the Opposition’s demand of crosschecking 50 per cent of the EVM results with voter verifiable paper audit trails (VVPATs), ThePrint has learnt.
“The demand of 50 per cent verification is arbitrary,” a senior EC official said on condition of anonymity.
“One would ask why not 100 per cent or 40 per cent or 10 per cent?”
The commission, which is yet to decide if it will increase the crosschecking of EVM results with paper trails in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, will come to a definite number based on some logical rationale, the official said.
“We cannot respond to an arbitrary demand with an arbitrary solution,” said the official.
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‘Waiting for report’
Last year, the EC had asked the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) to come up with a statistically sound formula to determine what percentage of VVPAT slips should be counted in order to ensure that there is no rigging in elections.
While the ISI is yet to submit its final report to the commission, it had earlier told the EC that its existing formula — of auditing VVPATs in one polling station in each constituency — is sound and sufficient to ensure that no rigging takes place.
“We are waiting for the ISI’s final report, and will not take a decision without considering their recommendations,” the official said.
The commission will be open to seeking views of other stakeholders and experts as well, added the official.
Speaking at an event in New Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said the ISI report is expected in a week or two, and will provide empirical formula for use of VVPAT.
Arora also said that the EC will consult political parties after the ISI report is available. However, he did not say if the recommendations can be implemented in the upcoming elections. “The time is too short,” he said.
On the logistical feasibility of increasing verification of paper trails in the Lok Sabha elections, the official said the issue will be looked into if there is merit in the demand of increase in the first place.
Earlier this week, as many as 22 opposition parties approached the Election Commission demanding that at least 50 per cent of the EVMs be subjected to verification against their paper trails since EVMs could be tampered with.
While the commission has consistently said that EVMs in India are tamper-proof, opposition parties have maintained their allegation that they are tampered in order to benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
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