SC Debates Voting Transparency: Paper Ballots vs. VVPAT Verification

The Supreme Court reviewed a series of petitions advocating for the cross-verification of votes using Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) systems during a recent session. The Court deliberated on concerns surrounding a potential return to paper ballots for general elections.

Representing the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), senior advocate Prashant Bhushan proposed three measures to enhance voting transparency. These included a return to paper ballots, making the VVPAT glass transparent, or allowing voters to retain the VVPAT slip for insertion into the ballot box.

VVPAT units generate a paper slip visible to voters for approximately seven seconds before being securely stored. Bhushan suggested, “We can go back to paper ballots,” emphasizing the option of handing VVPAT slips directly to voters for ballot box insertion. He highlighted a shift in VVPAT design from transparent to opaque glass, limiting visibility except when illuminated.

Justice Sanjiv Khanna reflected on past experiences with paper ballots, noting the challenges faced. ADR, among the petitioners, urged the Court to direct the Election Commission and the Union government to ensure voters can verify their votes through VVPATs.

The plea emphasized the need for voters to confirm that their votes are “counted as recorded,” citing a gap in the law regarding verification procedures. The failure of the Election Commission to address this was highlighted, contradicting previous court directives.

The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for Thursday.

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