Election Commission of India Releases Enhanced SOP for EVM Verification

The Election Commission of India introduced a new SOP for thorough verification of burnt memory in EVMs, featuring expanded choices for candidates, and enhancing transparency through randomness and candidate participation.

The Election Commission of India on Tuesday unveiled a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to verify the burnt memory of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), offering expanded options for candidates. This includes the selection of EVMs from any polling station within an assembly constituency and allows mixing and matching of EVM units from different polling stations.

The Commission emphasized that the extensive range of choices by candidates generates numerous inputs through varied key presses and sequences, ensuring thorough verification and eliminating fears of hidden functionalities or bias. This randomness in testing enhances transparency and impartiality in the verification process.

The Commission's approach, grounded in choice and outcome-based procedures rather than a controlled environment, aims to increase transparency and candidate involvement. Candidates can mix and match EVM units and decide the sequencing of connections and votes in a mock poll, casting up to 1400 votes in any sequence. The results of these mock polls will be validated as per established procedures.

Earlier, the Election Commission reported receiving applications for the verification of burnt EVM memories post-results of the General Elections to Lok Sabha 2024 and the State Legislative Assemblies. This underscores the Commission's commitment to robust electoral processes and confidence in EVM reliability.

(With inputs from agencies.)