With complaints that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) can be rigged, the Union Cabinet sanctioned Rs 3,200 crore over the next two years to enable the Election Commission of India (ECI) to procure machines that use Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units, for use in the 2019 general election.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal, whose parties did not do well in the recent round of elections, had alleged that votes by their supporters had not been correctly recorded. They had demanded VVPAT machines.
These produce a printout of the vote cast by using an EVM, which can be shown to the voter to dispel any doubt. This printout is then deposited in a box and can be used to resolve any dispute.
In 2013, the Supreme Court (SC) had asked ECI to implement the system in a phased manner. The Commission had committed to have this in place by the time of the 2019 election.
However, the government was tardy in addressing the request. This February, the Commission wrote to the law ministry that if orders were not placed immediately, it would not be possible for the machines to be ready in time for 2019. The Cabinet on Wednesday accepted ECI’s demand fully, to procure machines that cost Rs 19,650 each. The total cost of the order would be Rs 3,173 crore, to be spread over 2017-18 and 2018-19. The contracts will be given to Bharat Electronics and Electronics Corporation of India, both central government-owned. Around Rs 1,600 crore will be provided in the current financial year in supplementary grants. That includes a 40 per cent advance to the manufacturers. The decision means VVPAT units will be used in all pooling booths in the 2019 general elections, allaying any apprehension on the EVMS, went an official statement. This would also result in compliance of the SC’s direction of October 2013.
The idea of an additional layer of transparency to satisfy voters was mooted by political parties in October 2010. Around 20,300 of the VVPAT Units were purchased by ECI in 2013. Subsequently, an order for 67,000 additional units was placed in 2015, of which 33,500 have been supplied. ECI recently got a memorandum from 16 parties that the earlier paper ballot system be reintroduced, for transparency. Tampering of EVMs was alleged. The Commission had given about a dozen reminders to the government on funds for the paper trail machines. Last year, the chief election commissioner had written to the prime minister on the issue. During the recent Parliament session, many members had repeated the allegations on EVMs used in the recent state Assembly polls.
Earlier this week, a delegation of representatives from 13 parties had met President Pranab Mukherjee on a number of issues, including this one.