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Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
BJD steps up attack on ECI, says it will approach high court on discrepancies
Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday said it would approach the Orissa high court over alleged discrepancies in election data relating to the 2024 Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. The Election Commission of India (ECI) building, in New Delhi. (PTI) BJD spokesperson Amar Patnaik said the party had submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission of India in December last year highlighting 'serious discrepancies' in the 2024 election data but hadn't received a satisfactory response. 'Eight months have passed, and the Election Commission has failed to address our concerns or provide satisfactory answers. We would soon move high court on these discrepancies,' said Patnaik. The former Rajya Sabha MP stated that the BJD identified three major inconsistencies in the 2024 elections, based on their analysis of ECI data. Across Odisha's 21 parliamentary constituencies, the number of votes counted exceeded those recorded in the Electronic Voting Machines. 'We cited a discrepancy of 682 votes in Booth No. 57 of the Phulbani assembly constituency and variations of 660 and 784 votes in booths of the Talsara assembly constituency. Similarly, the total votes in Lok Sabha constituencies did not align with the combined votes of their constituent assembly segments. There was a variation of 4,056 votes in Dhenkanal, 3,521 in Kandhamal, 2,701 in Bolangir, and 677 in Jajpur where the election was decided by a mere 2,000-vote margin,' said Patnaik. BJD legislator Dhruba Sahoo said there had been a 'shocking' increase in voting percentages reported after the official close of polling, ranging from 7% to a high of 30%. 'In 50% of Odisha's assembly seats, this discrepancy was between 15% and 30%, with Keonjhar — where chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi contested — recording a 30.64% difference, the highest in the country,' he alleged. Patnaik questioned how such variations could occur in an era of advanced EVMs and telecom networks, noting that discrepancies in 2004 elections were below 2%. 'If votes from mock polls were not deducted, as the ECI claims, that's a criminal offence,' he asserted, rejecting the commission's explanation that faulty EVMs or pending litigation in 28 constituencies prevented the release of Form 17C (a critical document recording votes polled). 'Even constituencies not under litigation have not received these forms,' he said, reiterating the BJD's demand for a comprehensive audit of the electoral process — from voter list preparation to vote counting — by independent auditors or the Comptroller and Auditor General. BJD also called for 100% verification of Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips with EVM counts, instead of the current 5% mandate, and a 30-day deadline for providing Form 17C and VVPAT slips to citizens upon request. 'Such mechanisms exist in developed democracies. Why not in India?' Patnaik asked.
News18
27-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Bihar To Be First State To Allow Voting Via Mobile App, EC Explains How It's ‘Tamper-Proof'
Last Updated: Election Commission said that ample digital security measures have been put in place to ensure that app is "tamper-proof". It also explained how e-voting cannot be tampered with. Ahead of the Assembly elections, Bihar is set to become the first state in the country to allow voting with a mobile phone, according to State Election Commissioner Deepak Prasad on Friday. His remarks came on the eve of the voting for the six municipal councils across three districts – Patna, Rohtas, and East Champaran – slated for Saturday. However, it is not yet clear if the voting will take place in a similar manner in the upcoming Assembly Elections as well. Who Can Cast e-Vote In Bihar? The Election Commissioner said that the vote-by-mobile facility will be available to those who are unable to go to the polling booth to cast their votes. He said that the voters must have an app installed on their phone to be able to cast vote online. The official said that this facility can be availed by senior citizens, differently abled people, pregnant women and migrant voters. The Election Commission had also run an awareness campaign in this regard from June 10 to 22. The voters must download the e-SECBHR mobile application on their phone and link it to the phone number that they used to register their name on the electoral roll. Reports suggest that this app is currently compatible only with Android phones. Prasad said the app was created by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), and another app was made by the Bihar State Election Commission. The voters who do not own a mobile phone can also cast an e-vote on the Bihar Election Commission's website. Prasad said that around 10,000 voters had already registered for the e-voting system, and nearly 50,000 more are expected to vote online instead of going to polling booths. When asked how the voting process would remain safe and fair, he outlined strong digital security measures that have been put in place. 'The system will include features like blockchain technology, face matching, and scanning to make sure it can't be tampered with," he explained. He also added that there would be an audit trail—similar to the VVPAT (Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail) used with Electronic Voting Machines in Assembly and Lok Sabha Elections—to keep a record of the votes. First Published:
NDTV
27-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Bihar Becomes 1st State To Allow Voting Via Mobile Phone App
Patna: Bihar will be the first state to permit voting via a mobile phone, State Election Commissioner Deepak Prasad said Friday evening, ahead of voting tomorrow for six municipal councils in three districts. Councils in Patna, Rohtas, and East Champaran will go to the polls Saturday. The state will also hold an Assembly election later this year. It is unclear if the vote-via-mobile phone facility will be offered then too. In any case, for tomorrow the facility will be available to those who cannot go to a polling booth on the day of voting, Prasad said as he introduced the new e-voting initiative. Votes can be cast via an app that must be installed on the phone, he said. "This facility is for those unable to reach the polling station due to physical or locational reasons... like senior citizens, disabled persons, those who are pregnant and migrant voters." An awareness campaign was run from June 10 to 22. Voters who wish to register for e-voting must download the e-SECBHR app on their mobile (according to reports the app is compatible with Android phones only at this time) and link it to the phone number already registered to their name on the electoral roll. The app, Prasad said, had been developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, or C-DAC, while another was developed by the Bihar State Election Commission. To maintain transparency while voting, only two registered voters can log in from one mobile number. However, the validity of every vote will be cross-checked against individual IDs. Those without mobile phones can also vote on the State Election Commission's website. According to Prasad, an estimated 10,000 voters had already signed up for this initiative, and another 50,000 are expected to cast votes without visiting polling booths, i.e., via the website. Asked about measures to ensure the integrity of the voting process, Prasad said 'fool-proof digital security' had been ensured. "The system will have features like a blockchain platform... face match and scanning... making the process tamper-proof," he said. He also said an audit trail - like the VVPAT, or Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail, for the Electronic Voting Machines used in Assembly and federal elections - had been put in place.
Indian Express
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Why ECI has issued new rules for checking, verification of EVMs in case of a challenge by losing candidates
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a revised standard operating procedure (SOP) for the checking and verification of electronic voting machines (EVMs), which second- and third-placed candidates in an election can opt for. The ECI had introduced the checking and verification system last year following a judgment by the Supreme Court. The revised SOP was issued on June 17 following a second judgment by the top court on May 7, after the petitioners, including the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) moved court again, and the ECI agreed to make some changes. What is the checking and verification process? On April 26 last year, the SC had rejected a challenge to the use of EVMs and a plea for 100% counting of Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips, but had allowed a new system of checking and verification of votes for candidates who came second or third in an election. Following the judgment, the ECI published an administrative SOP on June 1, 2024, followed by a technical SOP on July 16, 2024. Candidates who had come second or third could ask for the checking and verification of the burnt memory/ microcontroller of up to 5 per cent of the EVMs used in the voting. As per the SOP, candidates who opted for the facility would be able to conduct a mock poll of up to 1,400 votes per machine. If the results of the EVM and VVPAT slips matched, the machine would be considered to have passed the test. So why did the ECI revise the SOP? The ECI carried out the checking and verification as per its SOP until the petitioners in the case moved court again, asking that the data stored in the EVMs not be deleted while the process was on, and that the Symbol Loading Units (SLUs) should also be covered as part of the process. The SLU is the device that is used to load the symbols of candidates onto the VVPAT machine. This is the stage at which activists have long believed that potential tampering could take place. On February 11 this year, the SC ordered the ECI to not delete the data. The ECI then filed an affidavit stating that it would 'no longer delete the data on the Electronic Voting Machine Units, of which verification is sought by the candidates', and that it would amend the SOP. The court accepted the proposal, and added that candidates would have the option to 'state the data loaded on the Symbol Loading Units (SLU) may not be erased and retained for use in the mock poll'. What does the new SOP state? Most of the SOP remains the same, including the requirement that during the mock poll, engineers of the EVM-manufacturing companies – Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) – would switch on the control unit (CU), ballot unit (BU), and VVPAT of the EVM in the presence of the candidates or their representatives. If all units switch on and the self-diagnosis is completed – that is, if there is no error message – they can go on to the next step of the mock poll. * As per the 2024 SOP, candidates were required to pay Rs 47,200 for each set of EVM (including the BU, CU, and VVPAT) they wanted checked. Under the new SOP, the candidate has more choice – they pay Rs 23,600 per EVM if they want only the self-diagnostic test, and Rs 47,200 only in the event that they decide to go for the mock poll as well. * The new SOP also gives the candidate the option of loading the symbols on the VVPAT. 'The eligible candidates may also opt to upload the data loaded on the SLUs used election in the mock poll. In this regard, it is highlighted that the VVPAT already have loaded data of actual candidates' symbols. However, the applicant can opt for use of already loaded symbols of VVPAT or request to reload the symbols loaded on the Symbol Loading Units afresh in VVPAT for the mock poll,' says the SOP. * The new SOP also increases the time for which records of the checking and verification process, including VVPAT slips and video footage, would be stored with the District Election Officer from one month to three months after the completion of the process. ADR co-founder Jagdeep S Chhokar said the process was no different from what is already carried out before any election – self-diagnosis and mock poll. Merely switching on the machines did not amount to checking and verification, he said. 'The SOP satisfies the letter of the Supreme Court judgment, however, the spirit of it is completely missing from the current system of checking and verification,' Chhokar said. Damini Nath is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. She covers the housing and urban affairs and Election Commission beats. She has 11 years of experience as a reporter and sub-editor. Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she was a reporter with The Hindu's national bureau covering culture, social justice, housing and urban affairs and the Election Commission. ... Read More
Hindustan Times
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
ECI can release EVMs used in Kalkaji constituency in 2025 polls: Delhi HC
The Delhi high court on Friday allowed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to release the electronic voting machines (EVMs) used in the Kalkaji constituency during the 2025 Delhi assembly elections, but directed that the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips be preserved until further orders. 'This application is partially allowed to the extent that respondent number 3 (ECI) may not preserve the EVM's but VVPAT slips may be preserved until further orders,' said a bench of justice Jyoti Singh. The matter arose from a petition filed by two voters — Kamaljit Singh Duggal and Ayush Rana — challenging the election of Atishi Marlena as member of legislative assembly (MLA) from Kalkaji. ECI had sought modification of the court's March 26 order, which had directed the preservation of all election-related records. In the March 26 order, the high court had directed that ECI and Delhi Police preserve all the records pertaining to the election. While issuing notice on the petition, the court had allowed ECI and Delhi Police to seek variation of the order if required. In its plea, ECI said the EVMs were needed for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. AAP leader Atishi had defeated BJP's Ramesh Bidhuri by over 3,500 votes in the February assembly elections, which were held amid setbacks for her party, with several senior leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, losing their seats. The petitioners alleged before the high court that Atishi violated the Representation of the People Act and the Model Code of Conduct by misusing her position as Delhi chief minister, deploying official vehicles for electioneering, and exploiting public resources to further her campaign. They claimed she received assistance from government officials and sought that her election be declared null and void. Seeking to declare her elections as null and void, Duggal's petition went on to add that Atishi's associates, who worked in the Delhi CM's office, acted in her direction to bribe voters to buy votes in her favour on the day of polls i.e. February 4. The petition also alleged that Atishi's associates in the Chief Minister's Office acted under her direction to bribe voters on polling day, February 4. It claimed her supporters spread fake videos alleging hooliganism by men under Bidhuri's direction, and arranged free transportation for voters to and from polling booths. It also accused her of failing to disclose certain criminal cases in her nomination affidavit. The court has listed the matter for further hearing on July 30.
