On April 26, the Supreme Court rejected requests to cross-verify votes cast on electronic voting machines (EVMs) with the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). Instead, the court suggested using electronic machines for vote counting and including bar codes on voting slips.
The court stated that requests for verifying the microcontroller of EVMs can be made within 7 days of the poll result declaration by paying fees. If tampering is found during verification, candidates’ fees will be refunded.
The order follows India’s ongoing Lok Sabha elections since April 19, with votes to be counted on June 4. The court directed sealing the symbol loading unit after symbol loading and storing it for 45 days. It allowed checking burnt memory in EVM microcontrollers upon candidates’ requests within 7 days of results, with expenses borne by requesting candidates and refunded if tampering is confirmed.
Previously, the court dismissed pleas to revert to paper ballots due to India’s size and population. Concerns over VVPAT reliability, including printer malfunctions, paper jams, and electronic-paper record discrepancies, have been raised. The Supreme Court had earlier directed increased VVPAT physical verification in Lok Sabha constituencies.
 with the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT).){kind=link}