EC revises protocol for handling, storage of Symbol Loading Unit of EVM and VVPAT following SC order

livemint.com:

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday said that they have revised protocol for handling and storage of Symbol Loading Unit of EVM (electronic voting machine) and VVPAT (voter-verified paper audit trail). The move comes following the directions of the Supreme Court of India which stated that machines should be sealed and secured in a container and stored in a strongroom along with the EVMs at least 45 days post the declaration of the results.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the poll authority said that all state chief electoral officers have been directed to create necessary infrastructure and provisions to implement the new protocols for handling and storage of the symbol loading units (SLUs). “As mandated by the Supreme Court, the revised protocols are applicable in all cases of completion of the symbol loading process in the VVPATs undertaken on or after May 1, 2024," the Election Commission said.

The apex court had on Friday issued directions to seal and store symbol loading units and also paved the way for verification of micro-controllers embedded in the electronic voting machines on the request of the candidates who stand second and third in the elections. Before the SC order, the SLUs were handed over to the local poll officials by the engineers of two public sector units BEL or ECIL.

A day after the election, the SLUs were returned to the engineers of the two PSUs who manufacture the ballot unit, the control unit and the VVPAT along with SLUs. Name and symbol of the candidates contesting on a particular seat are uploaded by the SLU on VVPAT or paper trail machines.

So far, the EVMs and VVPAT slips were stored for 45 days post election results. During this period, people