Digvijaya Singh's Ongoing Opposition to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Call for VVPAT Slip Verification

Concerns, Questions, and Demand for Transparency in India's Election Process

Jan 1, 2024 - 12:04
Digvijaya Singh's Ongoing Opposition to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Call for VVPAT Slip Verification
Digvijaya Singh

Digvijaya Singh, a senior Congress leader, questioned electronic voting machines (EVAs) once more on Sunday and insisted that voters be given VVPAT slips to place in ballot boxes.

Singh said that he has been saying that he does not trust electronic voting machines since 2003 in response to a video that raised concerns about their use in elections.


"I'm not even sure where my vote has been cast; I want to cast it to whomever I want to." There isn't a single machine in existence that can accept a chip that can be compromised. because the software that is embedded in the chip will dictate what it does. "You type 'A,' the software says, and only 'A' gets printed," he explained.

"What will print on the EVM if you press the "panja" (Congress poll symbol) and the software says "lotus"? Lotus or Panja? The issue at hand is that the VVPAT machine displayed the word "panja" for seven seconds. We were pleased with this and left, but the election symbol for the BJP, "lotus," will be printed! Rahul Mehta's video is where you can watch this game," Singh wrote in his post.

He said that, as is the case in all developed nations, the opposition had demanded that elections be held using ballots.

"Counting will require additional time. Okay, that's fine. However, the general public will think that the candidate they supported received their vote. It's not even known today. In his Hindi post, he said, "If @narendramodi ji and our Election Commission @ECISVEEP love EVMs so much, then why don't they show the VVPAT slip, give it to us, and we will put it in the ballot boxes."

Singh questioned, "What is the objection to this?" and continued, stating that "the Election Commission does not have time" despite the INDIA bloc's request for time to meet with the commission starting in August.

"What are our current options? Take your case against EVM to the Supreme Court or to the streets. Political parties, particularly those in India, ought to make a decision on this soon," he stated.

He stated in a different post that the political parties of the INDIA bloc are so busy that they don't even have time to meet with the opposition, despite their desire to be scheduled with the Election Commission starting in August.

"Will the Honorable CJI consider this? ECI consistently asserts that the Supreme Court's ruling on EVM is final. Honorable CJI, you should not even ask questions about EVMs from ECI; instead, recognized political parties should do as you please. He asked, "Where is justice?"

Singh also commented, "Thanks @pbhushan1 ji," in response to a post made by attorney Prashant Bhushan. Since this video is from before VVPAT, @ECISVEEP would argue that the matter is resolved. The voter can now view his chosen candidate for seven seconds. Does this imply, however, that the voter cannot verify that what he has seen is accurately printed by holding the printed VVPAT slip in his hands? The printer would follow the software's instructions rather than the voter's. Is the software reliable?"

"Who created the software and put it into the system? Why can't @ECISVEEP be truthful and release the software into the public domain? He stated.

Singh's comments follow days after the opposition 'INDIA' bloc claimed there are numerous questions regarding the accuracy with which electronic voting machines operate and recommended that voters be given VVPAT slips to complete, with 100% of the votes counted afterward.

After discussing the matter for a while, particularly in light of the BJP's recent victories in state assembly elections, leaders of various opposition parties felt that the opposition coalition as a whole ought to bring up the issue of EVMs with the public.

In the event of an election to the House of the People, the Election Commission states that before results are announced, it is mandatory to verify printed voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) slips from five randomly chosen polling places in each assembly constituency or assembly segment.

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