Lok Sabha Question No. 3848 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-11
Subject: Verification of Voting through EVMs
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Sajda Ahmed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3848

TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, 11 TH  AUGUST, 2023

## Verification of Voting through EVMs

3848. Shrimati Sajda Ahmad:

## Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of strategies adopted to verify the accuracy and integrity of the voting process through EVMs;
- (b)   the details of the EVM models available with the Election Commission of India (ECI) for conducting voting in the upcoming General Election;
- (c)   whether the ECI has disposed of the EVMs of Model M-1 and M-2 or they are to be used for conducting voting in the said Election; and
- (d)  the security measures are put in place to prevent unauthorized access or manipulation of the EVMs?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a):    The  Election  Commission  of  India  (ECI)  has  informed  that  it  has  adopted elaborate  strategies  to  verify  the  accuracy  and  integrity  of  the  voting  process through  Electronic  Voting  Machines  (EVMs).    With  the  introduction  of  Voter Verifiable  Paper  Audit  Trail  (VVPAT)  the  ECI  EVM  system  enables  voters  to immediately  verify  that    their  vote  is  cast  as  intended  by  observing  the  VVPAT ballot slip which contains the name, serial number, and symbol of the candidate for whom  vote  is  cast.    The  votes  are  counted  as  recorded  in  Control  Unit.  The correlation between the ballot slip printed by VVPAT and the vote recorded in the EVM is established statistically with a very high degree of confidence by tallying the electronic  count  of  the  Control  Unit  with  the  VVPAT  slip  count  of  five  randomly selected  polling  stations  in  each  assembly  constituency  /segment.    The  matter regarding mandatory verification of VVPAT slips count has already been settled by the  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  of  India  by  its  order  dated  8 th April,  2019.      In pursuance of  that order the ECI has been mandatorily verifying VVPAT slips of randomly  selected 5 polling stations per assembly  constituency/segment in Parliamentary constituency elections.  Further, It is highlighted that apart from the above, verification of VVPAT slips is done at various stages of the election process in the presence of representatives of recognised political parties/candidates. (b):  The ECI has informed that  the upcoming General Election will be held by M3 Model of EVMs & VVPATS. (c):    The  ECI  has  informed  that  The  destruction  of  Model  M-1  &  M-  2  EVMs (completed their economic life of 15 years) is under process. The same are not to

be used in upcoming General Election.

(d):  The ECI has informed that it has laid down complete technological measures as  well  as  administrative  and  security  procedures,  which  ensures  no  access  to EVM/VVPAT to any unauthorised person. Due to these measures/ safeguards ECI EVMs are protected from any tampering/manipulation whether before the polls or during the polls, or after the polls, in storage or transportation from manufacturer to the State/District or vice-versa, or when transported from one state to another etc.

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