Latest news with #EVMs
Time of India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Election Commission allows post-result mock polls to check EVM integrity
Representative Image NEW DELHI: Election Commission has revised its standard operating procedures (SOPs) for post-result checking of burnt memory or microcontroller of EVM (EVM C&V), allowing the candidates who finished second or third, to also opt for a mock poll on the selected EVM units, in addition to the simple diagnostic check already offered. As per the earlier SOPs issued on June 1, 2024, EVMs could be subjected to C&V as a set, that is, a combination of ballot unit, control unit and VVPAT, as used in an actual election. A diagnostic check would be performed under the supervision of the district in-charge engineer of the manufacturer, Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) or Electronics Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL) and the district election officer. There was no provision for a mock poll. The new administrative SOPs, issued on June 17, 2025, have also split the charges to be paid by the candidates applying for EVM checks, into two slabs. While plain EVM C&V charge is now fixed at Rs 23,600, inclusive of 18% GST, C&V check with mock poll will cost the applicant candidates Rs 47,200 (GST included). These charges shall be payable to the EVM manufacturer. However, if the EVM is found to be tampered with or modified, the charges will be refunded to the applicant concerned and borne by central or state govt, depending on the election. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like [Click Here] - 2025 Top Trending Search - Local network access Esseps Learn More Undo Eligible candidates can, within seven days of declaration of result, request a check or verification of burnt memory for any tampering or modification in 5% of EVMs - BU, CU and VVPAT - per assembly constituency or assembly segment of a parliamentary constituency. The new SOPs have also cut the period for the chief electoral officer to send the consolidated list of EVM C&V applications received, to the EVM manufacturers, to 15 days from the date of declaration of result, against 30 days earlier. Meanwhile, in another important decision, EC, concerned at the possible misuse of still and video records maintained by it for each stage of the election process, has fixed the period of retention of such records to 45 days, provided no election petition is filed. Time limits ranging from six months to a year were previously laid down for retention of photos and videography from different stages of elections - pre-nomination, nomination, EVM preparation, polling, counting and declaration of result - even though not mandatory under the law. "The instructions to destroy records after 45 days is prospective," an EC official told TOI, hinting that they may kick in only with the upcoming Bihar assembly poll. "The retention period is in sync with the 45-day time-bar for filing election petitions. When an election petition is filed, the relevant records will not be destroyed till after the petition is disposed of finally," added the officer. EC, in a letter sent to the all state CEOs on May 30, had justified the modified instructions by citing the "recent misuse of this content by non-contestants for spreading misinformation and malicious narratives on social media by selective and out-of-context use of such content, which will not lead to any legal outcome".
Economic Times
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
ECI issues SOP for EVM memory check, mock polls
The Election Commission has released a new procedure for checking Electronic Voting Machines. This follows orders from the Supreme Court. The process includes burnt memory checks and mock polls. It will first be used in Maharashtra's 2024 assembly elections. The verification process involves diagnostic checks and video recording. Losing candidates can request verification of some EVMs. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Election Commission has issued a fresh Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the checking and verification (C&V) of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), including a burnt memory check and the option of a mock poll for the first two losing candidates, in line with Supreme Court orders dated May new protocol will first be applied to over 100 C&V applications from the fiercely contested 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections, mostly filed by INDIA bloc SOP, issued on June 17 and circulated to all Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), outlines the step-by-step process. Once the status of pending election petitions is confirmed and necessary High Court permissions are obtained, CEOs will share a summary with EVM manufacturers ECIL and BEL . The manufacturers must respond within two weeks with a district-wise C&V schedule, names of authorised engineers, and a designated district in-charge engineer who will sign off on the certificate of authenticity of the EVM's burnt memory and any unit fails the C&V process, a detailed report from the engineer and district election officer must be submitted to the Election Commission and the faulty unit stored separately. The process must be completed within four weeks of CEOs sharing EP status with verification will be limited to 20 Ballot Units, 10 Control Units, and 10 VVPATs per request. Diagnostic checks will cost ₹23,600 per EVM set, rising to ₹47,200 if a mock poll is included. This is a reduction from ₹40,000 during the 2024 Lok Sabha entire process, including the mock poll, will be video recorded and preserved for up to three months. However, this record will not be treated as "election papers" under Sections 93 and 94 of the Conduct of Election Rules, mock poll will be conducted only on EVMs that pass EC's self-diagnostic and mutual authentication tests. The machines will mirror the actual poll-day configuration, and a maximum of 1,400 votes may be cast by the applicant candidate. VVPAT slips from the mock poll will be counted and matched with results from the Control Unit by engineers from ECIL or BEL. Candidates may also choose to load their symbols on the the SC's April 26 ruling, the two losing candidates in each constituency can seek burnt memory verification in up to 5% of EVMs within seven days of the counting day. The original 2024 EC protocol was challenged for its effectiveness, leading to the court's May 9 order approving the enhanced procedure.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
ECI issues SOP for EVM memory check, mock polls
The Election Commission has issued a fresh Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the checking and verification (C&V) of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), including a burnt memory check and the option of a mock poll for the first two losing candidates, in line with Supreme Court orders dated May 9. The new protocol will first be applied to over 100 C&V applications from the fiercely contested 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections, mostly filed by INDIA bloc candidates. The SOP, issued on June 17 and circulated to all Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), outlines the step-by-step process. Once the status of pending election petitions is confirmed and necessary High Court permissions are obtained, CEOs will share a summary with EVM manufacturers ECIL and BEL . The manufacturers must respond within two weeks with a district-wise C&V schedule, names of authorised engineers, and a designated district in-charge engineer who will sign off on the certificate of authenticity of the EVM's burnt memory and microcontroller. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bank Owned Properties For Sale In Cipinang Muara (Prices May Surprise You) Foreclosed Homes | Search ads Search Now Undo If any unit fails the C&V process, a detailed report from the engineer and district election officer must be submitted to the Election Commission and the faulty unit stored separately. The process must be completed within four weeks of CEOs sharing EP status with manufacturers. The verification will be limited to 20 Ballot Units, 10 Control Units, and 10 VVPATs per request. Diagnostic checks will cost ₹23,600 per EVM set, rising to ₹47,200 if a mock poll is included. This is a reduction from ₹40,000 during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Live Events The entire process, including the mock poll, will be video recorded and preserved for up to three months. However, this record will not be treated as "election papers" under Sections 93 and 94 of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. The mock poll will be conducted only on EVMs that pass EC's self-diagnostic and mutual authentication tests. The machines will mirror the actual poll-day configuration, and a maximum of 1,400 votes may be cast by the applicant candidate. VVPAT slips from the mock poll will be counted and matched with results from the Control Unit by engineers from ECIL or BEL. Candidates may also choose to load their symbols on the VVPAT. Following the SC's April 26 ruling, the two losing candidates in each constituency can seek burnt memory verification in up to 5% of EVMs within seven days of the counting day. The original 2024 EC protocol was challenged for its effectiveness, leading to the court's May 9 order approving the enhanced procedure.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Counting begins at 8am on Monday; 75.25% turnout
Kozhikode/T'puram: Election Commission revised Nilambur bypoll's voter turnout to 75.25%, with 1,74,667 of the 2,32,057 registered voters casting their votes. This includes 81,007 men, 93,658 women and two transgender persons. The polling percentages across local bodies are as follows: Nilambur municipality (76.5), Karulayi (76.7), Pothukallu (76.6), Edakkara (75.3), Chungathara (75.3), Amarambalam (75), Moothedam (74.9) and Vazhikkadavu (73.2). In comparison, the voter turnout in the 2021 assembly election was 76.7% and 78.8% in 2016. Chief electoral officer Rathan U Kelkar said the strongroom where the EVMs are stored will be opened at 7:30am on Monday in the presence of candidates' agents. Vote counting will begin at 8 am at Chungathara Marthoma Higher Secondary School. The counting process will involve 14 tables for EVM votes and five tables for postal and service ballots. The counting will take place in 19 rounds, starting with postal ballots, followed by EVM votes. To ensure accuracy, VVPAT slips from five randomly selected booths will be cross-verified with the corresponding EVM results. The Perinthalmanna sub-collector, who is also the returning officer, will lead the process. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thị trường có dấu hiệu suy thoái không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo In total, 123 officials have been deployed, including 29 counting supervisors, assistants, micro observers, support staff and seven assistant returning officers. After polling ended on Thursday, officials transported EVMs from 263 polling stations to Chungathara and sealed them in a strongroom in the presence of political party representatives, the election observer and other officials. Collector VR Vinod, returning officer Apoorva Tripathi, political representatives and the election observer supervised the Form-17 verification and randomization of counting personnel to ensure transparency. Security at the counting centre has been strengthened with the deployment of central forces, state armed police and local police.
News18
7 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
'Don't Make Excuses...': Omar Abdullah Takes Swipe At Ally Congress Over EVM Charge
Last Updated: He also took a swipe at the INDIA bloc, pointing out that the alliance's leaders have not held a single meeting since the conclusion of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday took a sharp swipe at the INDIA bloc ally Congress over its allegations against the Election Commission, saying that excuses shouldn't be made when someone doesn't succeed in elections. After the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Congress party repeatedly criticised the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), alleging irregularities and a lack of transparency in the electoral process. 'So what you hear from the Congress in terms of its reservations about the process of elections, this is all the Congress's own point of view. I don't share it. I don't share it simply because I'm not given to making excuses for things that I don't succeed at," said Abdullah during an interview with The Economic Times. 'If I have a problem with election results, then I need to have it when I've won as well. My party did better than we expected in the October assembly elections. Nobody expected us to get this number of seats," the Chief Minister remarked. Omar Abdullah delivers a reality check to Congress for attacking the Election Commission:'Don't make excuses for things you don't succeed at."'I got more seats than anyone expected. If I don't have a problem with how elections are conducted when I win, I can't have a problem… — Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 20, 2025 Recently, the Congress leaders questioned the credibility of the EVM system and demanded a return to ballot papers or the implementation of stricter safeguards. The party also called for an all-party discussion on electoral reforms to restore voter confidence. 'So if I don't have a problem with the way elections are conducted when I win, I certainly can't have a problem with the way elections are conducted because I've lost," Abdullah said. He also took a swipe at the INDIA bloc, pointing out that the alliance's leaders have not held a single meeting since the conclusion of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. First Published: June 20, 2025, 23:38 IST
