Expressing concern over rumours that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), being sent to Gujarat for the upcoming assembly elections, were the same as those that were used in Uttar Pradesh earlier this year, the Congress on Friday approached the Election Commission, seeking an assurance that Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) devices should mandatorily be used in all the polling booths in the state.
“There is some whisper in public domain that EVMs have been sent by the Election Commission for the forthcoming Gujarat assembly elections which are the same as (those that were) used in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections,” the Congress said in its representation before the EC.
Following the BJP's spectacular victory in the assembly elections in UP earlier this year, rival parties had raised doubts about the integrity of the EVMs used in the polls and had gone to the extent of demanding a return to ballot paper in future elections.
The Congress has urged the EC to clarify whether VVPAT machines will be used in the Gujarat polls. It said VVPAT was essential to ensure free, fair and transparent elections.
The party also suggested to the poll panel that it should advertise and inform the public about the rights of voters to object any wrong recording of vote, erroneous printing, any kind of manipulation or tampering with VVPAT machines during election.
After being visible to the voter from a glass case in the VVPAT for seven seconds, the ballot slip will be cut and dropped into the drop box in the VVPAT machine and a 'beep' sound will be heard. The Congress has demanded that the time period should be increased to 13 seconds.
Among the suggestions made by the Congress were that the VVPAT machines and paper trail collection boxes be identified with unique identification number, that the boxes be properly sealed with the signature of the booth agent of the candidates and the returning officer, and they have to be preserved for at least 120 days.
If a candidate is not satisfied with the counting, there should be a recounting immediately. If the candidate or his agent continue to be dissatisfied, paper trails of a minimum of five per cent of the booths in the constituency should be compared with the EVM results, the party suggested.
The Congress also demanded that CCTV cameras be installed in each polling booth to record the mobility of personnel and persons deployed for the election process.
