EVM VVPAT: SC Seeks Centre’s Response On Petition To Introduce Technology To Help Voters With Visual Disabilities

The Supreme Court on Monday granted the Ministry of Law and Justice four weeks to file its counter-affidavit on a petition seeking the implementation of technology to allow visually impaired voters to verify their votes.

A Bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and Bela Trivedi also granted the petitioner two weeks to file a rejoinder in the matter.

The petition moved by Akshay Bajad seeking to add image text to speech (ITTS) conversion software to Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units used in elections, as well as audio verification facilities for people who are blind or visually impaired.

The Top court had posted this matter for further hearing on March 3, 2023.

In its counter affidavit, which was previously filed by, the Election Commission of India stated that it has always sought to have an inclusive approach when it comes to elections and that it has taken a number of measures to that end.

The ECI’s affidavit cited security concerns and logistical issues as barriers to having ITTS conversion software embedded in the EVMs.

“Attaching any external device or installing ITTS software to the existing model of VVPATs would only result in a compromised scenario for the machines’ safety and security.” Furthermore, it stated that EVMs/VVPATs are stand-alone machines to which no external device can be added or installed. Also, any audio feedback facility has the potential to jeopardise voting confidentiality,” According to the affidavit.

ECI argued that, “EVMs/VVPATs have one-time programmable chips, so changing the software or installing ITTS software in existing EVMs/VVPATs is not feasible.”