Syllabus:

GS2: Structure, Organization and Functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government; Pressure Groups and Formal/Informal Associations and their Role in the Polity.

Context: 

The Election Commission of India has issued a revised SOP allowing second and third-placed candidates to request EVM checking and verification.

More on the News

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) introduced the EVM checking and verification system last year after a Supreme Court judgment on a petition by the Association for Democratic Reforms.
• The revised SOP was issued after a court ruling on a fresh plea by ADR and others, leading the ECI to agree to changes.

Checking and Verification Process

• In June and July 2024, the ECI issued administrative and technical SOPs allowing second- and third-placed candidates to request verification of the burnt memory/microcontroller in up to 5% of EVMs used.
• 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.

Key Provisions of the Revised SOP:

• 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. However, the VVPAT already have loaded data of actual candidates’ symbols. 
• 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.
• The new SOP also increases the time for which records of the checking and verification process, including VVPAT slips and video footage.
• The data would be stored with the District Election Officer from one month to three months after the completion of the process.

Election Commission of India 

• The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering the Union and State election processes in India. 
• The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies in India, and the offices of the President and Vice President in the country.
• The Election Commission of India is a permanent Constitutional Body. The Election Commission was established by the Constitution on 25th January 1950. The Commission celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 2001.
• Originally, the commission had only a Chief Election Commissioner. It currently consists of the Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. 
• The Constitution of India outlines the provisions for the Election Commission of India (ECI) primarily in Part XV (Articles 324-329). These articles address the ECI's powers, functions, composition, and related matters.